The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is the document that establishes the path to be taken by the country, with regard to energy, for the ten-year period 2021-2030, and is part of the obligations undertaken with the European Union and the other Member States. The primary goal is to meet the target of a 47% renewable energy share by 2030, in addition to a 35% reduction in the consumption of primary energy.
The document, the final version of which was submitted to the European Commission in mid-2019, reflects the strategy defined by the Government to embrace the challenge of energy transition. It establishes the political priorities to promote an increase in the installed capacity of renewable electricity, more specifically, what is being done with a view to adding around 15 Gigawatts. Pursuant to this measure, the executive branch expects to attain an 80% share of renewable sources in electricity production by 2030.
The NECP - which details the situation in Portugal, namely with regard to decarbonisation, energy efficiency, secure supply, internal market and research, innovation and competitiveness -, highlights the “path Portugal has been following, and we are currently the third-ranked country in the European Union in relation to the integration of renewable energies (+26.8 p.p. compared to 2005)”.
The plan, in addition to complying with the agreements established at European level, is geared to another major national and European goal – achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To do so, however, Portugal will need to focus on the “progressive disuse of a linear economic model based on fossil fuels, while investing in an economy based on renewable resources and the efficient use of the same, continuing with circular economy models, placing value on the land and promoting territorial cohesion”.
Despite the efforts of the different Member States in drawing up their NECP, the European Commission stresses that these projects “are lacking in terms of inputs in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency”, admitting that the difference between the commitments undertaken and those actually achieved can vary by 1.6 percentage points in relation to renewable energies and by 6.2 percentage points in relation to energy efficiency. Nevertheless, the minimum goals have been set at a minimum of 32% for renewable energies and 32.5% for energy efficiency.
Moreover, the institution emphasises, based on the measures put forward by the different countries, “it is estimated that the global reduction in greenhouse gases in the EU is in line with the goal of a 40% reduction in these emissions by 2030, compared to 1990". As such, the outlook is positive, as these policies will enable us to comply with the values specified in the Paris Agreement.