By HDK / Published on Wed, 2009-09-09 06:36
Defendants of energy efficiency have argued that policy-makers focus excessively on the “trendier” energy supply and not enough on end-use energy efficiency. Focusing on supply side energy policies, as is the case of supporting large renewable electricity generation plants, without looking at the same time for the opportunities in the demand-side, may generate avoidable costs.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Tue, 2008-09-09 09:00
Year: 2006
Policy Status: In force
Portugal legislated new efficiency Regulations on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings in 2006, revising the national RSECE building code of 1998. This revision complemented the Portuguese implementation of EU Directive 2002/91/CE on the Energy Performance of Buildings.
The 2006 revisions establish strict standards for
- HVACs' energy use; enumerating energy consumption limits in utilities of large buildings.
- indoor air quality; assuring a reference indoor air renovation rate (legally fixed) and limiting the pollutant concentrations inside the buildings.
- HVAC units design; limiting the installed power on HVAC systems and establishing a number of energy efficiency requirements on the design of new HVAC systems.
- maintenance; mandating the performance of energy audits, every six years, to large utility buildings and of periodic inspections to boilers and air conditioning systems. Energy units and equipment must have preventive maintenance plans.
Compliance with RSECE 2006 version is mandatory whenever a permit is requested for building a new or renovating an existing building.
In addition to the above, the Regulations on Thermal Behaviour of Buildings (RCCTE) define the requirements for new residential and small service buildings without HVAC systems, namely in terms of wall and floor insulation, types of glass coverings and surfaces, limiting heat loss and controlling excessive solar gains. These regulations set limits on the energy requirements for air-conditioning and hot water production, making it compulsory to install solar energy systems and favouring the use of other renewable energy sources.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Mon, 2008-09-08 09:00
Year: 2006
Policy Status: Planned
As planned in Portugal's State Budget 2007, a tax on inefficient incandescent lightbulbs will fund the purchase of carbon emission credits for use in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme and in compliance with Portugal's emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Thu, 2008-09-04 16:12
Year: 2007
Policy Status: In force
Portugal has taken a number of steps to transpose the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) into domestic law. This includes the passing of legislation in 2006 to establish the National System for Energy and Indoor Air Quality Certification of Buildings (SCE). The SCE, which entered into force on 1st July 2007, aims to save energy and protect the environment.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Thu, 2008-03-06 08:30
Will CSP and Ocean Energy become the next booming technologies?
Mention renewable energy and the first examples most people think of are hydroelectric power, wind power, photovoltaic panels, and various types of biomass. These are indeed the renewable technologies that have been implemented on the largest scale in recent years. But with the ever increasing quest for renewable energy that can help mitigate climate change and reduce oil dependency, a new generation of renewable technologies could very well experience a market boom in the upcoming years.
These include Wave Power and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). As is often the case, their technological concept is not new, but up to now the market conditions had not been right for large scale deployment. Those market conditions have now become favourable for Wave Power in Ireland and Portugal and for CSP in Spain. Other countries are expected to follow soon.
Ambitious targets for wave power
In Ireland, Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Communication, Energy, and Natural Resources has set the target of 500 MW of Wave Energy installed by 2020. Portugal has set a similar target of 550 MW by 2020. Both countries hope to ignite the wave power market by setting an attractive feed-in tariff — €0.22/kWh in Ireland and €0.23/kWh in Portugal.
Nevertheless, both of those targets seem very ambitious, given that the first large scale commercial wave power plant has yet to go into operation. The construction of the 2.25 MW wave power plant in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal, experienced significant delays, although the final part of the project is currently in the commissioning phase.
Hopefully, the government support being provided in both countries will allow the technology to overcome the bulk of its teething problems. If that happens, wave power could very well start conquering the world at fast pace.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Wed, 2007-03-28 17:15
The European Commission has drawn over a map of Europe the potential for electricity production using solar energy. The red spot – the biggest potential – lies over the south of Portugal, where the sun shines up to 3300 hours per year.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Thu, 2007-02-22 08:30
Growing from 10 MW to more than 100 MW
Worldwide, various photovoltaic (PV) solar plants of between five and fifteen megawatts have come online recently, or will soon be commissioned.
In the meantime, a new generation of PV plants capable of producing up to ten times more electricity are in the planning stage around the world.
Firm plans also exist for an 80 MW plant in Brandis, Germany, for a 100 MW plant in the Negev Desert, Israel, for a 116 MW plant in Beja, Portugal, and for a 300 MW plant in New Mexico, USA.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Fri, 2006-12-22 08:30
Due for commissioning in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
The world's largest wave powered electricity generation plant is almost ready to go into operation on the coast of Póvoa de Varzim in northern Portugal. It uses the same Pelamis system from Pelamis Wave Power (formerly Ocean Power Delivery Ltd) that was successfully tested at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. It consists of three 750 kW units, for a total of 2.25 MW. Two units have already been installed at the site. The third unit is currently being assembled at the Peniche shipyard.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Tue, 2006-11-21 00:06
In 1936, Portugal had 22,683 radio's, 22,062 electric irons, about 5,000 electric fans, 2,250 electric heaters, 1,820 vacuum cleaners, 970 refrigerators and 109 washing machines.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Sat, 2006-05-20 05:43
Via Treehugger, we learn about the world's current largest solar power plant (10 MW) in Pocking, Germany, inaugurated April 27 and costing 40 million euro. It takes over from PV array formerly known as the biggest in the world (6,7 MWp) in Mühlhausen, Germany.
In a world where small is considered as beautiful, a contest seems to be open on who is building the world's largest power station:
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