Iberdrola has completed the first phase of its Noronha Verde project in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago of Brazil, with 4,800 solar panels now in place and grid testing underway.

The milestone represents 15 percent of the total solar installation planned for the remote UNESCO-recognized site, which the company aims to transform into the first inhabited oceanic island in Latin America powered by a highly sustainable energy model.

First Phase Complete, Grid Tests Begin

The Spanish energy giant confirmed that it has begun tests to start supplying energy to the island's electricity grid following the completion of the first installation phase.

The 4,800 panels now on the ground represent the opening stage of a larger buildout that will ultimately encompass more than 30,000 solar panels across the archipelago.

The full project is being developed by Neoenergia, Iberdrola's Brazilian subsidiary, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The initiative carries a total investment of USD 58.18 million, making it one of the more significant clean energy commitments the group has directed toward a single island location.

Solar and Battery Storage Combined

Noronha Verde is designed to integrate photovoltaic generation with advanced battery storage systems. When fully operational, the plant will reach an installed capacity of 22 megawatt-peak, supported by 49 megawatt-hours of storage capacity. According to Iberdrola, that combination will be sufficient to cover the consumption equivalent to that of 9,000 homes.

The stated ambition of the project is to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in the island's electricity generation entirely, replacing the current dependence on biodiesel with renewable sources and clean technologies. Battery storage is central to that goal, providing the means to manage supply continuity in the absence of conventional generation.

A UNESCO Heritage Site as the Setting

Fernando de Noronha presents a distinctive backdrop for the project. The archipelago is recognized by UNESCO as a Natural Heritage of Humanity, a designation that underscores both the environmental sensitivity of the location and the significance of introducing a clean energy infrastructure there. Iberdrola has positioned the initiative as a benchmark not only for the island itself but for similar inhabited oceanic locations across Latin America.

The project's developers describe it as pioneering in its integration of solar generation, battery storage, and the broader electrification measures being rolled out across the island under the Mais por Noronha program.

Part of a Wider Island Electrification Program

Noronha Verde sits within the larger Mais por Noronha program, which promotes a range of electrification initiatives and new energy solutions across the island.

Those measures include the installation of solar systems in private homes and accommodation facilities, the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, distributed microgeneration, and the deployment of smart electricity grids.

The introduction of electric vehicles is also cited as a component of the program, reflecting an effort to address energy consumption across multiple sectors of island life rather than focusing solely on centralized electricity generation.

Government Partnership and High-Level Backing

The project is being developed in partnership with the Federal Government of Brazil and the Government of the State of Pernambuco.

Its public profile received a significant boost last November when it was formally presented by Iberdrola's Executive Chairman, Ignacio Galán, alongside Brazil's Minister for Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira. That joint presentation signaled the level of governmental engagement behind the initiative at both the federal and corporate levels.

Pernambuco's involvement reflects the administrative reality that Fernando de Noronha, while geographically remote, falls within that Brazilian state's jurisdiction.

The state government's participation alongside federal partners suggests coordinated support for what Iberdrola describes as a model project for sustainable island energy.

Scale and Timeline

With 4,800 panels installed and testing now underway, the project still has a considerable distance to travel before reaching its target of more than 30,000 panels.

The completion deadline of the end of 2026 means the remaining 85 percent of the installation must be carried out over the coming months. Neoenergia has not detailed the specific sequencing of remaining construction phases, but the commencement of grid testing during this first phase indicates that integration with the island's existing electricity infrastructure is already being evaluated.

The 22 MWp installed capacity figure and the 49 MWh storage figure represent the parameters of the completed plant. The current phase contributes only a portion of that total, and full operational capacity will depend on the successful completion of all remaining installation work within the 2026 timeframe Iberdrola has set for the project.

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