Solid biomass in Portugal
General
In
Portugal electricity represents around 20% of final energy consumption,
of which 30% to 40% is renewable-based, mainly large hydro plants. Of
the renewable technologies, wind power has been growing fastest over
recent years. Targets exist for new renewables: for wave power a pilot
area will be chosen for testing different concepts.
Portugal is developing actions to increase and improve the
environmental issues in the energetic laws, with base in the
“Estratégia Nacional para a Energia” - RCM n.º 169/2005 (Energetic
National Strategy). In this context, all the efforts are to look for a
more sustainable energy using the best available technology and, in
long term, to support the development of new technologies.
According
to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross
final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Portugal is 31% (in
the year 2005 the share was 20.5%). The Directive has a mandatory 10 %
target for transport to be achieved by all Member States, which refers
to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels alone.
Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Portugal
The
National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Portugal was
submitted in August 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive
2009/28/EC is 31% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in
that year exactly matches the target. According to the projection, the
most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from biomass
(renewable heating and cooling) (2322 ktoe, 38% of all renewable
energy). Second important contribution is expected from wind power
(14.6 TWh or 1255 ktoe, 21% of all renewable energy). The third largest
contribution is from hydropower (14.1 TWh or 1210 ktoe, 20% of all
renewable energy). Wind power contributes with 6.9 GW (14.6 TWh) in the
year 2020 (onshore wind 6.8 GW and 14.4 TWh, offshore wind 0.1 GW and
0.2 TWh). For solar photovoltaic the 2020 contribution is projected to
be 1.0 GW (1.5 TWh). For solar thermal the 2020 contribution is
projected to be 160 ktoe. The two most important biofuels are projected
to contribute 450 ktoe (biodiesel) and 27 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE)
by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass
amounts to 1.5 TWh (126 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 0.5
TWh (45 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount
to 1484 ktoe for solid biomass and 37 ktoe for biogas.
Renewable heat and electricity: solid biomass
The recent Second report on progress towards achieving
the indicative targets for electricity production from renewable energy sources
in Portugal (2004) makes the estimation on power installed for electricity
production out of biomass for 2006 of: 361 MW (with co-generation) and 12 MW
(without co-generation). These figures would constitute the 2,2% of the
capacity generated with RES. The target for 2010 foresees no growth of capacity
from biomass with co-generation (with a relative reduced weight of 1,8% of the
total generation of electricity) and a growth of capacity from biomass without
co-generation to 154 MW (1% of the total generation of electricity). The target
for biomass is 250 MW in electricity generating capacity by 2010.
The Decree-law 23_A of
16th February 2005 modified the system of feed-in tariffs. There are some
minimum and maximum tariffs, according to the variations of load on the grid.
In theory, energy producers can choose between feed-in tariffs and using
certificates of origin when they go to the market place. In reality, feed-in
tariffs seem to be preferred.
The Portuguese
Ministry of Economy launched in 2000 a program, MAPE, designed to run until
2006, notably to support investments in the use of ‘Renewables for Electricity
Generation’, under the CSF III (Community Support Framework). The most recent
legislation, decree 691/2006 (2)[1] fixing the maximum eligible limits for
investment projects concerning the production of electricity from renewable
energy sources establishes €2.100/kW of maximum eligible investment for biomass
power plants.
A favourable taxation
scheme has been effective for a long time. It consists in tax relieves for
private investors’ personal income, for investments made in renewable energy
technologies. Private users can obtain a deduction of up to 40% on their income
tax, with a maximum of 728€. This applies to all RES. A reduced VAT rate of 12%
is also in place for all RE equipments.
The indicative feed-in
tariff for electricity from forest biomass is 109 EUR/MWh and for animal biomass
it is 104 EUR/MWh (status
2008, decree law 225/2007).
Future programme changes expected
No specific future
programme expected yet, as the latest public support instrument for RES dates
back from early 2005 and the environmental legislation is even more recent.
Sources
Interactive
EurObserv’ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org
(status 2007)
M.
Neves, Directorate General for Energy and Geology: Promotion of RES-E in Portugal,
sixth Workshop of the International Feed-In Cooperation, Brussels, November 3rd
and 4th, 2008
The National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on
Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm
(sourced July - December 2010)
Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable
Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap
(sourced December 2010)
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: December 2010
This information can be referenced without permission provided that the
source is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive EurObserv'ER
Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last update)'
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