Portugal Set to Launch First Offshore Wind Auction This Year
- January 24, 2023
- Posted by: Quatro Strategies
- Category: Cleantech
Portuguese Prime Minister Costa said his government is aiming to launch the country’s first offshore wind auction by the last quarter of this year, with a target to reach 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030. As a pre-condition to the auction, the government will this week launch a public hearing regarding proposals for the delimitation of areas to allow the deployment of wind farms off the country’s Atlantic coast, Costa said.
“Portugal’s goal is to reach 10 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030…by the last quarter of this year, we will launch our first offshore wind energy auction,” Costa added.
Portugal has 7.3 GW of hydroelectric and 5.6 GW of onshore wind capacity, which together represent 83% of the nation’s total installed capacity.
Nations across Europe has been increasingly betting on renewable projects, including wind and solar, in the wake of the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Floating wind technology, seen as the final frontier in the offshore wind industry, has gained traction in countries such as Britain, France and parts of southeast Asia.
Portugal has a small, 25 MW floating wind project off its Atlantic coast.
The country aims to have 80% of its electricity usage coming from renewable sources by 2026, up from around 60% currently, which is already one of the highest in Europe.
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