The commitment to renewable energy must be continued and intensified. That was the main message left on the first day of the Lisbon Energy Summit, which continues until Thursday at FIL, in Lisbon, and was attended by environment and infrastructure ministers. “Taking into account Portugal’s potential in renewable energy sources and alternative fuels, we want to place the country at the forefront of sustainable aviation fuel production,” João Galamba said before an audience of national and international investors.
Galamba was confident in Portugal’s ability to assert itself in the international market not only because of the “interesting number of projects to produce SAF [combustíveis sustentáveis de aviação]as well as the government’s commitment to ensuring “the right laws and regulations” to drive this market.
In addition to a climate that is conducive to investments in alternatives to fossil fuels, the minister responsible for TAP wants the company to “fully exploit the existing opportunities in the energy transition”. “TAP is not just a company that transports people and goods, it transports fuel. And transporting fuel is an asset in the context of the energy transition,” he added.
João Galamba recognizes the challenge inherent in the decarbonisation process, but has no doubt that this transformation offers opportunities and admits that governments must forge partnerships with each other, but also with the private sector, to succeed. “We are committed to an energy transition that is affordable and also creates value for our economy,” he said.
renewable offshore as opportunity
During his intervention at the Lisbon Energy Summit, Duarte Cordeiro recalled that “Portugal is the fourth country in the European Union with the highest percentage of renewable energy in electricity production” and re-emphasized the target set by the government for 2026: to reach 80% of renewable energy in production. In addition to investments in solar and wind energy, the Minister of Environment and Climate Action pointed to the “potential” of renewable energy sources in maritime areas and assured that in this regard the first offshore production auction “will be launched later this year”. “We believe that these offshore markets have great potential for the economic and social development of coastal areas,” he stressed.
De-bureaucratize to win
The first morning of the international event, which runs through Thursday, also featured a panel bringing together EDP and Galp leaders, including representatives from the energy sector. The highlight of the debate on “Perspectives for the European energy transition: tackling the energy trilemma – security, accessibility and decarbonisation” was once again the importance of increasing investment in renewable energy sources, not only as a means of achieving carbon neutrality, but also of European sovereignty.
“Not having Russian gas is bad for the environment,” emphasizes Galp CEO Filipe Silva, recalling that the effects of the conflict in Ukraine have led to an increase in fossil fuel consumption. “We’re burning more fossil fuels,” he said. The commitment to green energy is therefore essential to resume the path of reducing fossil fuels, even if there are some challenges along the way. For Filipe Silva, “Europe’s competitiveness is at risk” due to the high cost of natural gas, which he considers important in the energy transition, and which, according to Galp’s CEO, is “five times higher than the cost in the US”.
On the other hand, João Manso Neto, CEO of Greenvolt, and Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP, see the excess of bureaucracy in the EU as a target to be slaughtered. procedures,” says EDP’s leader, adding ironically that “it was easier to build Nord Stream than to make the connection [do corredor energético verde] between Portugal and France”. Manso Neto acknowledges that “the EU has taken measures to reduce bureaucracy”, namely in the decentralized production of energy, but says that greater efforts are needed. “We need more energy communities and less bureaucracy in the permits, but we also need the biggest owners in Europe, namely the governments, to set an example. It is necessary for the states to use their heritage,” he stressed.
Source: DN
