The Regional Director for Energy highlighted in S. Pedro do Sul the objective results achieved in recent years in the Azores regarding the use of renewable and endogenous energy sources, which have made the Region an international reference in this field.
 
Andreia Carreiro spoke at the international seminar on "Geothermal Energy - An Investment in the Future," pointing out that geothermal energy account for "about 58% of clean energy production in 2016 and is expected to reach 61% by 2018."
 
In 2016, energy production from geothermal resources accounted for about 44% of the electrical consumption registered on São Miguel Island and about 19% of the overall electricity produced in the Azores.
 
"Geothermal power is expected to increase 7.5 percentage points by 2018 in the global scenario of electricity production in the Azores. This figure is partly due to the Pico Alto power plant, recently opened on Terceira Island," stressed the Regional Director.
 
In her speech, she added that this power plant should ensure 14% of Terceira Island's electricity needs by 2018, thus "contributing to the increase in production from renewable and endogenous sources, growing from 22% in 2016 to almost 40% next year."
 
"For the Region, geothermal energy is one of the most strategic and structuring investments, playing an increasingly important role in the Azorean energy market," stressed Andreia Carreiro. She recalled the multiple possible uses for this energy source, taking into account the low-enthalpy geothermal energy available in the Azores.
 
"This is a relevant purpose for the archipelago since it may be used in different sectors such as the climate control of buildings, including air conditioning, greenhouse heating in agriculture and the development of thermal infrastructures in the tourism sector," said the government official.
 
Andreia Carreiro assured that the Regional Government will continue "to carry out research to enhance the endogenous potential applied to the various priority sectors, promoting the innovation and competitiveness of the Azores."
 
"The participation of the Regional Government in initiatives of this kind is essential. It allows not only to account for what has been recently done in the Azores in this field, but also to promote the sharing of experiences and the acquisition of knowledge on geothermal energy with national and international entities," said the government official.
 
"This is fundamental to foster the learning process of the Azores to acquiring an in-depth knowledge in terms of using the archipelago's clean and endogenous energy sources and promoting a sustainable region," said the Regional Director.