PORTUGAL GOES FOR NEW ENERGY

Portugal has no coal, oil or natural gas resources. But it has lots of wind, sun, waves and flowing water. It once imported 80% of its energy needs. It now produces over 40% of its power from New Energy sources and is aggressively building more. Economy and Innovation Minister Manuel Pinho: "Not taking advantage of our resources such as water and the wind would be like Venezuela not taking advantage of its oil…"

Besides producing electricity, New Energy is a boon to Portugal’s economy. The country expects New Energy to generate 10,000 new jobs and investment of $12.1 billion in the next 5 years.

click to enlarge

Portugal leads rush into green energy
Barry Hatton, March 16, 2008 (AP via SF Chronicle)

WHO
Portugal (pop. 10.6 million) (Economy and Innovation Minister Manuel Pinho); Energias de Portugal SA (EDP)

The wind energy industry is booming in Portugal (and Spain). (click to enlarge)

WHAT
At the end of 2007, Portugal was obtaining over 40% of its electricity from New Energy sources. It is planning the world’s biggest solar thermal power plant, Europe’s largest wind farm, 11 new dams to generate hydroelectric power and a wave energy project.

WHEN
- The EU’s triple 20 goals include obtaining 20% of its electricity from New Energy sources by 2020. It was at 8.5% in 2005.

The 11 megawatt Serpa PV solar power plant is the biggest right now... (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- Portugal is one of 8 EU countries obtaining over 10% of its electricity from New Energy sources. Britain and Italy are at only 5% while Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Austria are growing like Portugal.
- Portugal’s Amareleja (pop: 3,000) project claimed to be the biggest solar power plant in the world: 2,500 26 ft. by 43 ft., 2.2 ton gray-blue solar panels over 618 acres costing $396 million and serving 30,000 homes.
- The new wind farm will be in Portugal’s hilly north.
- The wave energy project will be on the country’s Atlantic coast.

WHY
- Portugal’s wind energy capacity grew fourfold from 2005 to 2006, the EU’s biggest wind energy growth rate. Portugal will have wind power for 750,000 homes by the end of 2008.
- The government provides a variety of grants and subsidies to New Energy producers.
- Portugal is looking to the New Energy sector to ease its falling per capita GDP (down from 80% in 2000 to 71%) and rising unemployment (now 8.3%).
- Utility EDP has become an international energy power through New Energy revenues.

...But the Amareleja facility will have 4 times the megawatt capacity. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Economy and Innovation Minister Manuel Pinho: "Not taking advantage of our resources such as water and the wind would be like Venezuela not taking advantage of its oil…"
- Oliver Schaefer, policy director, European Renewable Energy Council: "Some countries [unlike Portugal] are clearly lagging behind [in New Energy development]…"