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Perspectives on environmental regulation and the renewable energy sector.

Energy Storage 2 min read

Energy Storage: The Problem Isn't the Technology — It's the Market

At the Portugal Energy Storage Forum 2026, organized by APREN, it was argued that what holds back batteries in Portugal isn't market volatility — comparable to California or Texas — but the lack of diversified revenue streams.

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Nature Conservation 5 min read

Portugal Approves 18 New Special Conservation Areas (SCAs)

Portugal has approved 18 new Special Conservation Areas, bringing the total to 44 and strengthening the Natura 2000 network from the mountainous interior to the Algarve coast.

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Land-Use Planning 4 min read

"Green Map" Portugal: Investment in Renewables

The Green Map, from Portugal's Ministry of Environment and Energy, demarcates Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAER) with a prior strategic environmental assessment.

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Data & Technology 5 min read

Free DGT LiDAR: 10cm Survey for Mainland Portugal

DGT is making the PRR-funded LiDAR survey of mainland Portugal freely available, with 10cm vertical accuracy and a density of 10 points per m².

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Renewable Energy 4 min read

OWF Studies – Offshore Wind Energy in Portugal

Coordinated by IPMA under the PRR, the Estudos OWF project has gathered 2,167 linear km of geophysical data off Leixões and Figueira da Foz, with the 2025 campaign studies expected to conclude in June/July 2026, supporting the upcoming offshore wind auction.

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Funding 5 min read

Clean Energy: 112 Applications Funded by the Environmental Fund

Portugal's Environmental Fund approved 112 applications supporting Renewable Energy Communities and Collective Self-Consumption, with €19.1 million in funding under the PRR, aiming to add around 93 MW of installed renewable capacity.

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Nature Conservation 5 min read

Alvão Natural Park: What to Visit

Created in 1983 and now also part of the Alvão/Marão Special Conservation Area, Alvão Natural Park protects the Iberian wolf, the otter, and landscapes such as the Fisgas de Ermelo waterfall.

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Hydrogen 5 min read

Green Hydrogen in Sines Only Starts in 2026

The main green hydrogen projects in Sines — from Galp, Neogreen Hydrogen and MadoquaPower2X — have had production start-up delayed to 2026, together totalling over €3 billion in investment.

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Permitting 4 min read

Requirements for the Environmental Licensing of Green Hydrogen in Portugal

Licensing green hydrogen projects in Portugal requires an environmental impact assessment (AIA), atmospheric emissions authorization under DL 127/2013, compliance with the Seveso III Directive given hydrogen's flammability, and water management under Law No. 58/2005.

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Biodiversity 5 min read

Cork Oaks and Holm Oaks: Some Interesting Facts

Cork oaks and holm oaks form the montado, legally protected in Portugal and recognised by UNESCO as a globally important agroforestry system.

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Environment 4 min read

State of the Environment Report 2024

APA's REA 2024 analyses Portugal's environmental performance across eight domains, from GHG emissions to waste and public participation.

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Wind Energy 4 min read

Repowering Wind Farms in Portugal

Repowering replaces old turbines with more efficient technology, increasing output without occupying new land.

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Climate Change 4 min read

COP29: The 29th Conference on Climate Change

COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024, focusing on climate finance and laying the groundwork for COP30 in Belém.

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Opinion 3 min read

Nuclear Energy: From Hero to Villain — What Went Wrong?

An opinion piece on how nuclear energy went from a great energy promise to a controversial source, exploring three major obstacles: accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima, radioactive waste management, and high costs compared to renewables.

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Renewables 3 min read

Portugal Renewable Energy Summit 2024

Organised by APREN, the Portugal Renewable Energy Summit 2024 was held in Lisbon on 4 and 5 November, bringing together industry leaders to discuss electricity market reform and the energy transition.

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Climate Policy 5 min read

World Climate Action Day: 24 October

World Climate Action Day, marked on 24 October, mobilises governments, businesses and citizens around concrete measures to cut emissions and curb global warming.

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Forests and Wildfires 6 min read

Environmental Impacts of Wildfires in Portugal

Wildfires in Portugal have significant impacts on biodiversity, soil, climate and water resources — and call for an integrated approach of prevention, forest management and restoration.

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Climate Policy 5 min read

National Energy and Climate Plan 2030 (PNEC 2030)

PNEC 2030 sets Portugal's energy and climate targets through 2030, including 47% renewables in final consumption and a 45%-55% cut in GHG emissions versus 2005.

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Land Use Planning 4 min read

National Agricultural Reserve (RAN)

The RAN protects Portugal's most suitable agricultural land, restricting its use under specific legislation.

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Environmental Enforcement 4 min read

Reporting Portal for Agriculture, Sea and Environment Launched

IGAMAOT launched iFAMA, a single inspection and enforcement platform that centralises reports and coordinates the bodies responsible for agriculture, the sea and the environment in Portugal.

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Sustainability 5 min read

Recycling of Photovoltaic Panels

As solar panels reach the end of their 25-30 year lifespan, the EU's WEEE Directive regulates collection and recycling of materials like silicon, glass and silver.

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Legislation 4 min read

The RED III Directive Boosts Renewable Energy in Portugal

Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III), in force since 20 November 2023, raises the EU's renewable energy target to at least 40% of gross final consumption by 2030, with direct impact on permitting simplification and renewable growth in Portugal.

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Biodiversity 5 min read

The Nature Restoration Law (NRL)

In June 2024, the EU Council formally approved the Nature Restoration Law, requiring Member States to restore at least 30% of degraded habitats by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050.

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Sustainability 6 min read

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, marked on 17 June, commemorates the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), adopted in 1994.

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Sustainability 4 min read

World Oceans Day

The oceans cover about 71% of the Earth's surface and produce roughly half of the oxygen we breathe. World Oceans Day, on June 8, was recognized by the UN in 2008, with the 2024 theme catalyzing action for our ocean and climate.

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Sustainability 3 min read

World Environment Day

June 5 marks World Environment Day, established by the UN in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference. The 2024 theme, hosted by Saudi Arabia, focuses on land restoration and resilience to drought and desertification.

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Renewable Energy 4 min read

Offshore Wind Energy: The WindFloat Project and Offshore Auctions

EDP's WindFloat installed off Viana do Castelo the first floating wind turbine connected to the grid in deep water, in 2011. Portugal's first offshore wind auction, initially expected by the end of 2023, had an estimated kick-off of June 2024.

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Land Use Planning 5 min read

Land Management Instruments: RAN and REN

The National Agricultural Reserve (RAN) and the National Ecological Reserve (REN) are two key legal instruments protecting, respectively, agricultural land and environmentally sensitive areas in Portugal.

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Renewables 4 min read

What Are Renewable Energies?

A guide to the main renewable energy sources — solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, ocean and biomass — and how they differ from fossil fuels.

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Permitting 2 min read

APREN's Licensing Guide for Onshore Renewable Projects

APREN, together with APA and DGEG, launched a guide consolidating the licensing procedures for onshore renewable projects in Portugal, initially focused on wind and solar.

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