Caniçal is a 6.6 MW solar power plant in Madeira, Portugal. It is operated by Atlantic Islands Electricity SA. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 2.8k homes (estimated). It ranks #259 of 480 Portugal power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2010, it is around 16 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 17.3% of Portugal's electricity; the national grid averages 128 gCO₂/kWh (81.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022599.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001009080; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 6.6 MW, Caniçal is well above the median solar plant in Portugal (2.3 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Portugal solar capacity
- 1.0% of 642 MW across 72 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 8 of 65 dated solar plants in Portugal are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest solar plants in Portugal
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Atlantic Islands Electricity SA.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 77% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 21/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in an extreme marine/tropical environment (estimated ISO 9223 class CX — Extreme), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #20 largest solar power plant of 72 in Portugal by capacity.
Portugal has 72 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 642 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Fajã da Nogueira · Hydro · 2.4 MW · Madeira
- Meia Serra (Estação de Tratamento de Resíduos) · Waste · 8 MW · Madeira
- Santa Quitéria · Hydro · 1.7 MW · Madeira
- Socorridos · Hydro · 24 MW · Madeira
- Vitória power station · Oil · 172.5 MW · Madeira
- Serra de Água · Hydro · 4.9 MW · Madeira
Location
Coordinates 32.7518, -16.7512 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Caniçal?
Caniçal is a 6.6 MW solar power plant in Madeira, Portugal, commissioned in 2010.
Who operates Caniçal?
Caniçal is operated by Atlantic Islands Electricity SA.