Renewable energies in portugal: evolution and challenges ahead

Abstract

This article aims to describe the evolution of the legislative approach to energy production from renewable sources in Portugal as much as in what concerns electricity as in what relates to biofuels. Since the late 1980 legislation has been enacted and a decisive impulse was promoted by the EU directives of 2001/2003 (first green directives, on electricity and biofuels). In spite of the mandatory goals fixed by the second directive, of 2009, the economic crisis has dictated the reduction of the incentives to production of renewable energy, throwing some uncertainty over the evolution in this matter in the near future.