It is a "small seed" that is expected to bear fruit "in such an important area". Eight municipalities in the Algarve signed on Friday, 18 October, a memorandum of understanding for the creation of a regional cooperation network for the promotion of renewable energies.
Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Lagos, Loulé, Portimão and São Brás de Alportel were the councils that adopted this new tool, created by the Regional Energy and Environmental Agency of the Algarve (AREAL) and which follows on from the European project STORES.
Cláudio Casimiro, general director of AREAL, explained to the Sul Informação that the network will allow, «this group of municipalities, to promote energy self-consumption solutions». The idea is, for example, to adopt solutions of this kind for municipal buildings.
“The network also creates the possibility here for the exchange of knowledge and the definition of common strategies for the different territories. The idea is to move towards that goal of making the Algarve a low-carbon region, something so important in a tourist area like ours», he said.
There is also the issue of community funds, of the European Union, whose access can be made easier.
“The new framework program is strongly committed to cooperation and sharing of investments. Therefore, the municipalities will be able to develop common strategies and share financing, in order to develop self-consumption solutions», said Cláudio Casimiro to our newspaper.
When the new legislation comes into force, another point can be explored by the councils that make up the network. "With the issue of energy communities, municipalities will be able to join together and form an energy community, based on production and sharing," said the official.
In a region with many hours of sunshine, it is certain that the main bet, within the scope of this now official network, will be on photovoltaic energy.
“Right now, it's the dominant technology and that's where we're going to bet more. We are going to bet on electricity production and hence, also, this choice, which is in line with the Energy and Climate Plan that the Government is forecasting for 2030», explained Cláudio Casimiro.
In addition to the eight municipalities, the Algarve's Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) is also part of this network.
Francisco Serra, president of this entity, considered that the bet on renewable energies is the right path to follow.
“This is a very important network. At the Regional Innovation Council, we have been doing work, namely in the area of energies. We are reaching the moments of realization and we all know that this issue is increasingly present in public opinion», he began by saying.
For Francisco Serra, the municipalities realized «how good this bet is for the development of the Algarve». “It is a sign of great maturity. There is still a way to go, but we will be here for that», he guaranteed.
As for Vítor Aleixo, president of the Loulé Council and of the AREAL board of directors, he said that this "understanding will allow us to work together on a dossier that will gain crucial importance in our lives."
And the other eight municipalities? What was the reason for not being part of this regional network? Cláudio Casimiro explained to Sul Informação that “the invitation was sent to all”, but only “a few accepted immediately”. "The others are under analysis, but our expectation is that they will also join," he concluded.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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