LISBON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- The construction of the world's largest solar power station was begun on Tuesday in Portugal, local media reported.

    The 11-megawatt plant, being built in Serpa, 200 km southeast of Lisbon, one of Europe's sunniest areas, will include 52,000 photovoltaic modules on a 60-hectare southern-facing hillside. The total investment will be 61 million euros (about 78.5 million U.S.dollars), said the report.

    The hill will continue to be used as farmland once the power station is running in early 2007.

    The plant will provide electricity to 8,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30,000 tons as a result, the report said. Enditem