The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism revealed today in Ponta Delgada that there has been an 111% increase in the amount of incentives for energy production from renewable sources under Proenergia since 2016.

“If we go back to the beginning of this legislative period, we will see an increase from 322 applications in 2016 to 586 in 2019, representing a growth of 82%, that is, approximately 1.2 million Euros of direct support from the Regional Government," stressed Marta Guerreiro.

The Secretary for Energy spoke at the presentation of the programme's results in 2019, a year that registered “a 34% increase in the amount of incentives compared to 2018. Overall, this measure corresponds to an allocation of about 437 thousand Euros, which represents an investment of 1.6 million Euros from promoters.”

"These data evidence the importance of the programme and the growing demand from the Azoreans for more sustainable options," noted the government official.

Marta Guerreiro also mentioned that, regarding the acquisition of equipment, “662 units were supported in 2019, 18% more than in 2018 (561 units) and 106% more than in 2016 (322 units). In fact, the Regional Government encouraged the acquisition of 1,900 units during the current legislative period."

"As for the purchase of equipment supported last year, 69% correspond to heat pumps, 24% to by heat recovery units, 4% to solar collectors and 3% to solar photovoltaic systems," said the government official.

In terms of project promoters, the Regional Secretary revealed that “individuals have been the major beneficiaries over the past few years, followed by companies. Last year, various Private Social Solidarity companies joined the programme, which now offers more favourable conditions."

“These data show us that we are on the right track and that the Azoreans are with us: they are more informed and increasingly aware of the production of clean energy, both thermal and electrical, and they show more concerns for the preservation of the environment with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions," stressed the Regional Secretary.

On the occasion, Marta Guerreiro recalled that “a significant amendment to this programme was approved last year at the Legislative Assembly in order to make it more comprehensive and encourage the Azoreans to play an even more active and decisive role in the transition to smart grids, as already evident in the 2019 results."

“Since the beginning of the legislative period, Proenergia has proved to be a fundamental incentive system in implementing one of the goals set out in the Government's Programme: to promote energy efficiency in the Region, optimising the efficient use of energy produced from renewable sources and, above all, integrating them into the power grid,” stressed the Regional Secretary.

Proenergia is directed to individuals or condominiums, small and medium-sized companies (including individual entrepreneurs), cooperatives, Private Social Solidarity Institutions and non-profit associations. It is primarily intended to maximise the adoption of clean energy sources to the detriment of fossil fuels as well as to encourage their production at local level.