Revealed: government’s ‘Green Map’ for fast-tracking renewable energy projects

Portugal has opened a public consultation on its new Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAER), unveiling a nationwide “Green Map” as it has been called, designed to fast-track solar and wind energy projects while simplifying licensing procedures.

The initiative, launched today by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, identifies 1,302 areas considered most suitable for renewable energy development, with the aim of accelerating Portugal’s energy transition, increasing investor confidence and improving coordination with local authorities and communities.

The Green Map forms part of Portugal’s implementation of the European Union’s RED III Renewable Energy Directive and is also included as a measure under the country’s Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PRR).

According to the ministry, the mapping exercise was carried out by an independent technical team coordinated by Maria do Rosário Partidário (who chaired the technical committee for the new Lisbon airport) using criteria including environmental sensitivity, renewable energy potential, land-use planning constraints and proximity to electricity grid infrastructure.

The government says the framework is built around three key objectives: faster and simpler licensing procedures, greater legal certainty and predictability for developers and investors, and the early integration of environmental and territorial planning considerations.

Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho described the Green Map as a key tool for achieving Portugal’s clean energy goals.

“The Green Map is an essential instrument for accelerating Portugal’s energy transition. It provides simpler rules, greater predictability and stronger participation by local communities, while maintaining a balance between energy development, environmental protection and territorial planning,” she said in today’s statement.

According to the draft sectoral programme for Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones, published by the National Laboratory for Energy and Geology (LNEG) last month, the proposal identifies 1,302 mapped zones across the country.

Of these, 792 are designated for solar photovoltaic projects and 510 for onshore wind energy developments, with flexibility for future variations.

The mapped solar areas cover approximately 371,348 hectares, while the designated wind energy zones account for around 84,489 hectares.

Coimbra Leads Solar Energy Acceleration Zones

The highest concentration of solar ZAER zones is located in the Coimbra region, with 113 mapped areas. This is followed by Viseu Dão Lafões with 68 zones, while both the Lezíria do Tejo and Region of Leiria have 50 zones each. The Porto Metropolitan Area also contains 50 designated solar acceleration zones.

In terms of land coverage, the Aveiro region stands out, with 11.7% of its territory identified as potential solar ZAER land. It is followed by Beira Baixa with 11% (an area where citizens and conservation groups are already fighting tooth-and-nail against vast swathes of countryside being plastered with photovoltaic panels), the Coimbra region with 10.9%, and the Leiria region with 9.6%.

At municipal level, the report highlights Albergaria-a-Velha, Mortágua, Pedrógão Grande, Proença-a-Nova, Sertã and Vila Nova da Barquinha, where areas mapped for solar photovoltaic development represent at least 25% of municipal territory.

Wind Energy Focused on Central Portugal

The largest concentration of wind acceleration zones is planned for the Beiras and Serra da Estrela region, with 92 mapped areas.

The Beira Baixa region will host 62 wind ZAERs (notice the language, cited by Jornal PT Green, suggesting the Map is being presented as a form of fait-accompli, irrespective of the fact that it is ostensibly ‘up for public consultation’), followed by the Lezíria do Tejo with 45 and the Médio Tejo region with 36.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy stressed that the acceleration zones do not prevent renewable energy projects from being developed elsewhere in the country. Instead, they function as “preferred locations” designed to steer investment towards areas with lower environmental sensitivity and greater capacity for connection to the electricity grid.

The public consultation is being conducted through the government’s participa.pt platform and is open to citizens, municipalities, environmental organisations, industry stakeholders and renewable energy developers.

Today’s consultation marks a significant step in Portugal’s efforts to expand renewable energy capacity, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet ambitious European climate and decarbonisation targets, says the blurb.

But it comes at a time when several communities are fighting renewable energy projects, particularly in the Alentejo – and when municipalities themselves are not on board (see story to come)

The Green Map public consultation runs until July 15

Source material: Jornal PT Green/ Lusa