Portugal’s new government pledges offshore wind development

Portugal’s new government will focus on developing offshore wind energy, “repowering” onshore wind farms, and promoting solar projects, including small-scale initiatives, environment minister Maria da Graca Carvalho announced on Monday, according to Reuters.

Investors eagerly await details on a planned licensing action for offshore wind projects, which was initially announced by the previous administration.

In the country’s first offshore wind auction, the previous government offered a capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW), but the current government has not confirmed whether it will maintain or adjust this capacity. The timing of the auction remains uncertain.

Carvalho assured that policy directions will be revealed before the summer break, with a formal announcement expected in July. Portugal already boasts a 25-megawatt floating wind project off its Atlantic coast, owned by Ocean Winds—a joint venture between Portugal’s utility EDP and French company Engie.

Several utilities have expressed interest in the upcoming auction, including Germany’s BayWa, the Irish-Spanish consortium IberBlue Wind, fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and a joint venture between Portugal’s Galp and France’s TotalEnergies.

Floating wind farms, positioned in deep waters with stronger and more consistent winds, offer greater power generation potential compared to fixed seabed installations near the shore or on land. Portugal’s commitment to green energy underscores its strategic role in the global transition towards sustainable technologies.