by DoDo
Wed Jun 16th, 2010 at 06:47:47 AM EST
Like the government of almost every EU member country, the Socialist minority government of Portugal reacted to the sovereign bonds crisis orchestrated by ratings-agencies in the face of exploding budget deficits by implementing an austerity programme (since March), including social cuts and privatisations. However, taz reports that the government still wants to maintain and boost investment into renewables.
Compared to 3,535 MW of installed wind capacity at the end of last year and a 35.9% share of renewables in the 2009 electricity consumption (wind alone 15.03%), by 2020, the government wants to boost wind installations to 8,500 MW, and also add eight (mid-sized) hydroelectric plants totalling 1,300 MW, adding 121,000 jobs with a combined public and private investment of 32 billion. According to an unspecified industry study, even a 82% penetration of renewables in electricity would be possible by 2020.