With its plan for green energy, Portugal wants to strengthen the renewable energy sector, promoting the decarbonisation of electricity and heat/cooling production. At the same time, this country aims to promote and support electric mobility.
A plan with a target of 47% of RES by 2030
The European Union has set a target, for all member countries, of 32% share of renewable sources in gross final energy consumption. Portugal, as can be seen from the graph, aims to reach 47% by 2030 with, in particular, the RES quota of 80% in the electricity sector, 38% for the heat/cooling sector and 20% in the transport.
Portugal has thought of several measures to achieve the binding target of the European Union for energy by 2030.
Some of them are:
- Promote the decarbonisation of the electricity system, including the closure of coal-fired power plants by 2030
- Accelerate the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, with particular attention to solar PV
- Promote electrification in all sectors of the economy
- Promote and accelerate investments with regard to RES
- Create the regulatory environment conducive to the participation of new investors in the market, including local energy communities
- Encourage research and development, particularly in the storage sector, with low carbon, hydrogen and other 100% renewable fuels
Regarding the promotion of renewable energy sources in transport, this country will aim to promote and support electric mobility, especially by stimulating the sector based on transport electrification, advanced biofuels and hydrogen.
One of the objectives will be to strengthen the capacity of the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles at various levels (buildings, services, public roads, service stations, and in many other situations).
What strategy will Portugal take to reach the binding target of the EU?
Portugal intends to introduce specific financial support measures to incentivize the use of RES in gross final energy consumption.
The perspective is the use of EU support instruments under the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 for projects that correspond to a “renewal” of the energy sector.
In addition to this, the National Investment Program 2030 (PNI 2030) is part of a structural investment strategy.
In this context, PNI 2030 will be the tool to define the priorities of strategic infrastructure investments in the medium and long term in the sectors of mobility, environment and energy.
This investment program concerns nationwide infrastructures located in mainland Portugal, structured for projects or programs with investments of over 75 million euros and with a time horizon of 10 years.
In the context of regional cooperation on renewable energy financing instruments, energy interconnection between Portugal, France, Spain and the European Commission should be encouraged.
