The Regional Government has implemented and will continue to develop measures that foster the growth of renewable energy production and energy efficiency, stated the Regional Director for Energy, José Vieira, in Ponta Delgada on Wednesday afternoon.
José Vieira spoke at the closing ceremony of the seminar “Sustainable Energy: Smart Networks and Mobility” in the context of the European Sustainable Energy Week.
It is important to mention that the European Union adopted in December 2008, the Climate Energy Package, which aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 20% across the EU territory, increase the use of renewable energy by 20% in energy consumption and enhance energy efficiency by 20% in 2020.
In this regard, the Regional Director for Energy stressed that the Region has been a pioneer in the adaption of EU directives to regional legislation and gave the example of the energy certification of buildings.
The new legislation requires new buildings or subject to major renovations to implement domestic energy-saving hot water systems, such as heat pumps, or those using endogenous or renewable resources, such as solar panels are, stressed the Regional Director for Energy.
According to him, this certification is awarded by qualified professionals and, in this context, area which the Azorean Government has intensively invested in this area through the organisation of various training courses.
For José Vieira, continuing to rely on petroleum derived fuels in the medium and long term may be an unreasonable solution when compared to other alternative energy sources, such as solar, geothermal and hydroelectric energies.
In the Azores, unlike other regions, the production of electricity from renewable sources is viable when compared energy production from fossil fuels, said the Regional Director.
In this context, the delivery point code is now provided on the electricity bill, with which Azorean consumers may apply for the micro-generation registration system that is, for renewable energy on the hour, thus becoming not only consumers, but also electricity producers and seller to the public network.
On the other hand, added José Vieira, the micro-generation of electricity is being developed and the respective legislation is at a regulation stage, taking into account that micro-generation is more suitable for consumers with higher consumption levels.
With these sustainable measures, the Regional Director for Energy believes that the Region will be more renewable and efficient from an energy standpoint in order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and increase electricity production from renewable sources to 75% by 2018.
With regard to geothermal energy, José Vieira pointed out the expansion plans for the construction of new plants and the expansion of others, as well as the expansion construction of new wind farms, such as the case of the Graminhais wind farm which will be completed this year.
In turn, the wind farm of Faial will be dismantled and replaced during this year in addition to the installation of two wind turbines on Graciosa, two on Santa Maria and another two on the island of Pico.
According to the Regional Director, doubling the Serra do Cume Wind Park on Terceira Island and building the new hydro plant on the island of Flores are goals that represent the starting point for 2015 when 50% of the electricity produced in the archipelago will be from renewable sources.
“Corvo Renovável” (Renewable Corvo) is another project to be developed in a partnership with MIT Portugal and “Green Islands” as it is the only island of the archipelago without renewable energy.
For that purpose, a series of studies are being developed between an Australian consultant, the Instituto Superior Técnico and EDA in order to provide the smallest Azorean island with renewable energy.
Reducing energy dependence on fossil fuels for road transport was another of the strategies mentioned by the Regional Director for Energy. In this context, an electric mobility network (MOBI.E) is being developed in the Region, integrated in the national network, with the purpose of achieving an integrated solution to ensure the user’s access to the system anywhere in the country.
José Vieira also pointed out the field of research, considering that the archipelago may be a dynamic hub for researchers as we have natural resources in abundance that might exploited for the production of new sustainable energy sources.