In Portugal electricity represents around 20% of final energy consumption, of which 45% is renewable-based, mainly from large hydro plants and wind energy. Of the renewable technologies, wind power has been growing fastest over recent years. Portugal is developing actions to increase and improve the environmental issues in the energetic laws, with base in the “Estratégia Nacional para a Energia” - RCM n.º 169/2005 (Energetic National Strategy). In this context, all the efforts are to look for a more sustainable energy using the best available technology and, in the long term, to support the development of new technologies.
According to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Portugal is 31% (in the year 2005 the share was 19.8%). The Directive has a mandatory 10 % target for transport to be achieved by all Member States, which refers to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels alone.
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for
Portugal was submitted in August 2010. The target according to Annex I of
Directive 2009/28/EC is 31% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in
that year exactly matches the target. Based on
the projection, the most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected
from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (2322 ktoe, 38% of all renewable
energy). Second important contribution is expected from wind power (14.6 TWh or
1255 ktoe, 21% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from
hydropower (14.1 TWh or 1210 ktoe, 20% of all renewable energy). Wind power
contributes with 6.9 GW (14.6 TWh) in the year 2020 (onshore wind 6.8 GW and
14.4 TWh, offshore wind 0.1 GW and 0.2 TWh). For solar photovoltaic the 2020
contribution is projected to be 1.0 GW (1.5 TWh). For solar thermal the 2020
contribution is projected to be 160 ktoe. The two most important biofuels are
projected to contribute 450 ktoe (biodiesel) and 27 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE)
by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass amounts to 1.5
TWh (126 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 0.5 TWh (45 ktoe). The
consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount to 1484 ktoe for solid
biomass and 37 ktoe for biogas.
The Portuguese Ministry of Economy launched in 2000 a
program, MAPE, designed to run until 2006, notably to support investments in the
use of ‘Renewables for Electricity Generation’, under the CSF III (Community
Support Framework).
A favourable taxation scheme has been effective for a
long time. It consists in tax reliefs for
private investors’ personal income, for investments made in renewable energy
technologies. Private users can obtain a deduction of up to 40% on their income
tax, with a maximum of 728€. This applies to all RES. A reduced VAT rate of 12%
is also in place for all RE equipment.
The indicative feed-in tariff for electricity from
forest biomass is 107 – 109 EUR/MWh and for animal biomass it is 102 - 104 EUR/MWh (status 2008, decree law
225/2007).
Sources
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (status
2007)
Ministério da Economia, da Inovação e do Desenvolvimento: Plano Novas Energias - Estratégia Nacional Para a Energie (ENE2020), April 15, 2010
http://213.58.220.193/mei/Document/ENE2020_PT.pdf (accessed October 2011)The National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on
Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm
(accessed July - December 2010)
Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable
Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap
(accessed December 2010)
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: November 2011