The second amendment to the Regional Legislative Decree establishing the incentive system for the production of energy from renewable sources in the Azores (Proenergia) was published today in the Official Gazette. It is primarily intended to increase the financial incentives to be granted in order to maximise the adoption of clean energy sources, instead of the use of fossil fuels, as well as its production locally.
 
In view of the growing needs of project promoters, the incentives will cover the support for the production and storage of electricity, the production of hot water through solar thermal systems, heat pumps and biomass systems, and investments in the producing of energy for space heating using endogenous resources.
 
This legal document also introduces changes to the minimum amount of investment as well as to the incentive rate granted to how water production systems.
 
Moreover, it provides for the increase in the support for renewable energy projects whose investments are carried out in territories covered by the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, namely the islands of Corvo, Flores, Graciosa and São Jorge, with the aim of safeguarding and enhancing the natural heritage of these territories.
 
For the Regional Government, the energy policy is one of the main pillars supporting the sustainable development of the Region, through the decarbonisation of the economic sectors and the promotion of energy efficiency.
 
With this legislative amendment, the primary goal is to encourage the use of renewable and endogenous sources for energy production, being in line the Government's targets for this sector. It is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a way to combat climate change, boosting the efficiency of various economic sectors and making them less dependent on external energy resources.