Renewable energy in Portugal
Encyclopedia
Renewable energy in Portugal was the source for 52% of the country's
electricity generation in 2010 - an increase of 28% in 5 years.
In 2001, the Portuguese government launched a new energy policy
instrument – the E4 Programme (Energy Efficiency and Endogenous Energies), consisting of a set of multiple, diversified measures aimed at promoting a consistent, integrated approach to energy supply and demand. By promoting energy efficiency
and the use of renewable energy
(endogenous) sources, the programme seeks to upgrade the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy and to modernize the country’s social fabric, while preserving the environment by reducing gas emissions, especially the carbon dioxide responsible for climate change
.
While in the past 5 years the main priorities were focused on the introduction of natural gas
(aiming at progressively replacing oil and coal in the energy balance) and liberalization of the energy market
(by opening this former state-owned sector to competition and private investment), the emphasis for the next 8-10 years will be put on energy efficiency (supply and demand sides) and use of endogenous (renewable) energy.
systems, with a capacity of 256 MW, which produce 815 GWh/year.
generating capacity installed in Portugal
, with another 908 MW under construction. The major wind turbine
manufacturers in the Portuguese market are Enercon
, Vestas
and Gamesa
.
The 240 MW Alto Minho Wind Farm
in the Viana do Castelo district became fully operational in November, 2008. At the time of completion it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm.
Other major wind farms which are operating, or under construction, include: Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
(112 MW), Gardunha Wind Farm (106 MW), Pinhal Interior Wind Farm (144 MW) and Ventominho Wind Farm
(240 MW).
A large photovoltaic power project, the Serpa solar power plant
, has been completed in Portugal, in one of Europe's sunniest areas. The 11 megawatt plant covers 150 acre (0.607029 km²) and has 52,000 PV panels. The panels are raised 2 metres off the ground and the area will remain productive grazing land. The plant provides enough energy for 8,000 homes and will save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
emissions per year.
Not far from there, Moura Photovoltaic Power Station
is under construction. With more than 376,000 solar modules, it will have an installed capacity of 62MWp when finished. The first stage of construction is scheduled for completion in 2008. A solar panel factory is also being built in the city of Moura, where there are plans to build a research lab.
's main investment for the use of this type of energy is in the Azores
. There has been a small scale use of this energy source since the 80s in Chaves and S. Pedro do Sul, Continental Portugal
providing 3 MWt.
In the Azores
the use of Geothermal energy is widespread, with investments in 8 of the 9 Islands, collectively producing some 235.5 MWt. In 2003, 25% of the electricity consumed in São Miguel
was produced by geothermal energy.http://www.energiasrenovaveis.com/html/energias/geo_pt_actualidade.asp
Aguçadoura Wave Farm is the world's first commercial wave farm
. It is located three miles (5 km) offshore near Póvoa de Varzim
north of Porto. The farm uses three Pelamis
wave energy converters to convert the motion of the ocean surface wave
s into electricity. The farm was officially opened on the 23 September 2008 by the Portuguese minister of the economy.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
electricity generation in 2010 - an increase of 28% in 5 years.
In 2001, the Portuguese government launched a new energy policy
Energy policy
Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption...
instrument – the E4 Programme (Energy Efficiency and Endogenous Energies), consisting of a set of multiple, diversified measures aimed at promoting a consistent, integrated approach to energy supply and demand. By promoting energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
and the use of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
(endogenous) sources, the programme seeks to upgrade the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy and to modernize the country’s social fabric, while preserving the environment by reducing gas emissions, especially the carbon dioxide responsible for climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
While in the past 5 years the main priorities were focused on the introduction of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
(aiming at progressively replacing oil and coal in the energy balance) and liberalization of the energy market
Energy market
Energy markets are those commodities markets that deal specifically with the trade and supply of energy. Energy market may refer to an electricity market, but can also refer to other sources of energy...
(by opening this former state-owned sector to competition and private investment), the emphasis for the next 8-10 years will be put on energy efficiency (supply and demand sides) and use of endogenous (renewable) energy.
Hydro power
The largest hydroelectric power station is at the Alto Lindoso dam, with a capacity of 630 MW. Portugal has about 100 small hydroSmall hydro
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community or industrial plant. The definition of a small hydro project varies but a generating capacity of up to 10 megawatts is generally accepted as the upper limit of what can be termed small hydro. This may be...
systems, with a capacity of 256 MW, which produce 815 GWh/year.
Wind power
In March 2007, there was 1,874 MW of wind powerWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
generating capacity installed in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, with another 908 MW under construction. The major wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
manufacturers in the Portuguese market are Enercon
Enercon
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Germany, is the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-nineties. Enercon has production facilities in Germany , Sweden, Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal...
, Vestas
Vestas
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. It is the largest in the world, but due to very rapid growth of its competitors, its market share decreased from 28% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2009...
and Gamesa
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica , is a manufacturing company principally involved in the fabrication of wind turbines and the construction of wind farms....
.
The 240 MW Alto Minho Wind Farm
Alto Minho Wind Farm
The Alto Minho Wind Farm in the Viana do Castelo district, of Portugal, became fully operational in November, 2008, when Portugal's Economy Minister Manuel Pinho inaugurated it. At the time of completion, it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm...
in the Viana do Castelo district became fully operational in November, 2008. At the time of completion it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm.
Other major wind farms which are operating, or under construction, include: Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
The 112 megawatt Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm is in the Viseu district of Portugal. It uses Enercon E-82 wind turbines.In March 2007, there was 1,874 MW of wind power generating capacity installed in Portugal, with another 908 MW under construction....
(112 MW), Gardunha Wind Farm (106 MW), Pinhal Interior Wind Farm (144 MW) and Ventominho Wind Farm
Ventominho Wind Farm
The Ventominho Wind Farm is located close to the Spanish border in north-western Portugal. It includes 120 wind turbines, each of 2 MW capacity, supplied by German manufacturer Enercon. With 240 MW in total capacity and a single point of connection to the grid, the onshore wind farm is now fully...
(240 MW).
Solar power
Serpa solar power plant
Construction of the 11 megawatt Serpa solar power plant began in June 2006 and was completed as planned in January 2007, at the cost of 58 million euro. The facility is located in Serpa, in Portugal's Alentejo agricultural region, southeast of Lisbon...
, has been completed in Portugal, in one of Europe's sunniest areas. The 11 megawatt plant covers 150 acre (0.607029 km²) and has 52,000 PV panels. The panels are raised 2 metres off the ground and the area will remain productive grazing land. The plant provides enough energy for 8,000 homes and will save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
emissions per year.
Not far from there, Moura Photovoltaic Power Station
Moura photovoltaic power station
The Moura Photovoltaic Power Station is a large photovoltaic power station in Amareleja, in the municipality of Moura, Portugal. It is one of the largest power stations of its kind, and is built in one of the sunniest regions in Europe...
is under construction. With more than 376,000 solar modules, it will have an installed capacity of 62MWp when finished. The first stage of construction is scheduled for completion in 2008. A solar panel factory is also being built in the city of Moura, where there are plans to build a research lab.
Geothermal power
PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's main investment for the use of this type of energy is in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. There has been a small scale use of this energy source since the 80s in Chaves and S. Pedro do Sul, Continental Portugal
Continental Portugal
Continental Portugal or Mainland Portugal is the designation of the mainland Portuguese territory, located on Europe's Iberian Peninsula....
providing 3 MWt.
In the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
the use of Geothermal energy is widespread, with investments in 8 of the 9 Islands, collectively producing some 235.5 MWt. In 2003, 25% of the electricity consumed in São Miguel
São Miguel
-Brazil:* São Miguel, Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte* Barra de São Miguel, Alagoas, a municipality in the State of Alagoas* Barra de São Miguel, Paraíba, a municipality in the State of Paraíba* São Miguel do Aleixo, a municipality in the State of Sergipe...
was produced by geothermal energy.http://www.energiasrenovaveis.com/html/energias/geo_pt_actualidade.asp
Wave power
Wave farm
A wave farm or wave power farm is a collection of machines in the same location and used for the generation of wave power electricity.-Portugal:...
. It is located three miles (5 km) offshore near Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a Portuguese city in the Norte Region and sub-region of Greater Porto, with a 2011 estimated population of 63,364. According to the 2001 census, there were 63,470 inhabitants with 42,396 living in the city proper. The urban area expanded, southwards, to Vila do Conde, and there...
north of Porto. The farm uses three Pelamis
Pelamis wave energy converter
The Pelamis Wave Energy Converter is a technology that uses the motion of ocean surface waves to create electricity. The machine is made up of connected sections which flex and bend as waves pass; it is this motion which is used to generate electricity....
wave energy converters to convert the motion of the ocean surface wave
Ocean surface wave
In fluid dynamics, wind waves or, more precisely, wind-generated waves are surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and canals or even on small puddles and ponds. They usually result from the wind blowing over a vast enough stretch of fluid surface. Waves in the...
s into electricity. The farm was officially opened on the 23 September 2008 by the Portuguese minister of the economy.
See also
- List of renewable energy topics by country
- Renewable energy in the European UnionRenewable energy in the European UnionThe countries of the European Union are currently the number two global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU's dependence on foreign energy imports, and in meeting targets to combat...
- Energy policy of the European UnionEnergy policy of the European UnionAlthough the European Union has legislated in the area of energy policy for many years, and evolved out of the European Coal and Steel Community, the concept of introducing a mandatory and comprehensive European energy policy was only approved at the meeting of the European Council on 27 October...
- Renewable energy development
- Renewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...