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Portugal




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I. National statistics

Basics
Area (km²): 92 152
Population (Mio.): 10,5
Population density: 114

National government, economy and structure of energy sources
Governing parties: Socialist Party (PS)
GNP (Gross National Product per capita): 73.1 (considering EU-25 as 100%) Euro per capita
Unemployment rate (%): 6,7

Fossil fuels (%): 66
Nuclear energy (%): 0
Renewable energy (%): 34

II. National status of wind energy

Accumulated number of turbines and installed capacity:

1992: 65 (8,3)
1993: 65 (8,3)
1994: 65 (8,3)
1995: 65 (8,3)
1996: 82 (18,5)
1997: 72 (18,2)
1998: 131 (50,9)
1999: 136 (56,9)
2000: 165 (81,9)
2001: 215 (119,9)
2002: 276 (189,4)
2003: 342 (269,0)
2004: 544 (632,0)

Description of the present status and future national energy policy in relation to wind energy (i.e. political objectives/ subsidy and investment policy/ economic effects/ technical or other limits/ public acceptance/ weak points)
Portugal wind energy installed capacity was, in the end of 2004, of 632 MW corresponding to a raise of 363 MW during last year. The official goal for wind energy in 2010 is 3750 MW, corresponding to a annual raise in wind energy production about 520 MW. The subsidies granted by the MAPE (Regulation for the Execution of the Support Measure of the Energetic Potential Utilisation and Rational Energy Consumption) are only restricted to technologies that are already in commercialisation stage. On this way, emerging technologies in a research or a demonstration stage are not eligible for subsidies. Under this measure (MAPE) a maximum of 40% of subsidy is granted, over eligible cost, being the reimbursement period of 9 years, with a delay period of 3 years. Portuguese legislation as been review in February with three significant changes:
  1. Wind parks already licensed will have support payments guaranteed for 15 years, to construction permits until February 2007.
  2. New licensed wind parks will have a guaranteed period of 15 years but with a reduction of 15% in the value.
  3. After those 15 years a new subsidy system will be introduced based on the market value of wind energy with the sum of a "green certificate". Renewable energy represented, in 2004, 34% of the national gross electricity production in Portugal (excluding Madeira and Azores Islands). Wind energy represented, in 2004, 1.8% of the electricity production.

Characteristic of the most significant national wind park project:
Parque Eólico das Terras Altas de Fafe - the biggest wind park is owned by GAMESA and is located in the north of Portugal, and is located in five municipalities in the north of Portugal. The currently installed capacity is 80MW, resulting from 40 Gamesa G87 turbines of 2MW. In the final this park will have a total of 80MW. Another big wind park is currently under development in Pampilhosa da Serra, with a total installed capacity of 94.9 MW, composed by 73 Bonus wind turbines of 1.3 MW.

Offshore activities and projects:
Offshore wind parks are in theory a possibility for the Portuguese coast, but presently they are likely to take second place considering the developments on land. The shore falls away very sharply along most of the coastline so that within two kilometres from the coast the water depth is often in a range from 25-30 metres, creating technical problems and increasing costs. Actually there are no offshore win park projects in Portugal.

Share of manufacturers (%):
Enercon: 37,13
Vestas: 17,73
Nordex: 11,95
GEWE: 10,25
IZAR Bonus: 6
Neg-Micon: 5,25

III. Legal issues and national planning status related to wind energy

Relevant legal issues
Law-Decree n.° 312/2001 had established the regulations to the management of the electricity reception by the SEN (National Electric System). Law-Decree n.° 33-A/2005 - I Série A n.° 33 has recently introduced new values for the feed-in tariffs for renewable sources electricity. Portaria n.° 394/2004 - Regulates the subsidies granted by the MAPE.

Description of the national wind energy planning status (i.e. national/ regional/ municipal planning conceptions/ weak points)
The General Directorate of Geology and Energy had recently published (February 17th) a public contest for the attribution of a total of 1 100 MW for the production of electricity from Wind Energy. The attribution of this power for wind energy represents the "entering in force" of one of the proprietary measures present in the Plan for the Reduction of the Portuguese Oil Dependence. It represents also an important step for the Portuguese objectives assumed under Kyoto Protocol. Recently, at 22 of April, this public contest was suspended due to legal matters because the risk of impugnation due to legal questions was high, and could stop all process. Information present in the DGGE website relates that a new public context will be published. One of the weakest points in the Portuguese situation is related with the grid. In some areas the grid requires a urgent upgrade with a considerable investment so that the grid can receive al the generated power. Other weak point is related with grid connection; grid connection expenses are paid by the wind energy promoters, as well as, in some cases, sub-stations upgrade. On this is easily concluded that part of the grid upgrades is being financed by wind energy promoters. Another factor that causes some extra difficulties to the promoters is the environmental license. This is due to the fact that the majority of the places with wind potential are located in areas under NATURA 2000. This imposes the development of several environmental impact studies.


For more details please download:
Portugal: National Status in wind energy (sheets, 321 kB)
Portugal: National Status in wind energy (slides, 219 kB)