As the Spanish government announced its plans to cut all price subsidies for renewable energy production, Portugal has stressed its continuing support, with Prime Minister Passos Coelho calling on the EC to set a 40% renewables target for 2030.
“Support shouldn’t be excessive,” he said, but that doesn’t mean Portugal should not back renewables.
Passos Coelho was talking at a meeting in Lisbon as Spain attempts to check losses to state coffers by pulling back on its zeal for renewable energy.
Green energy shouldn’t be seen as a burden, stressed Passos Coelho. But the way ahead is mired in difficulties.
According to Windpower Monthly’s Windicator, Portugal’s wind power capacity stood at 4.587GW at the end of November, 2013 – yet only 191MW of this was added in 2013.
Meantime, the European Commission has ordered the government to “eliminate its energy tariff deficit and ensure the sustainability of the national electricity system.” If it doesn’t make suitable efforts, “continued financial assistance” becomes an issue.
It’s the same Catch-22 that has affected Spain, where solar energy companies are struggling, many going under, as the government cracks down on its tariff deficit.
