PESTEL and SWOT PP7
Factors
P
The goals that were defined for the Action Plans for Sustainable Energy Islands (Paesi), to the
olitical
Azores, result of a set of three ambitious goals of Project Green Islands, now revised downwards due
to the economic situation of the country:

60% of electricity from renewable sources;

20% of total primary energy from renewable sources;

35% of total primary energy used in the form of electricity.
The Action Plan for Sustainable Energy Islands ISLE-PACT project adds another goal to the previous
three:

Reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20% compared to the reference 2005, to the
year 2020.
The objectives to be achieved with these four goals are:

Reduce imports of fossil fuels, in order to increase independence and energy security and
ensure greater regional economic sustainability in the long term;

European Union
European Regional Development Fund
Minimize contribution to climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,
especially considering the influence of specific particularly vulnerable sectors, such as
agriculture, tourism, and Regional economy.

Encourage social and economic development through the promotion of activities related to
energy production of renewable sources; energy efficiency, urban planning, sustainable
mobility, etc.
The ISEAP the ISLE-PACT for the Azores mainly proposes the following three sets measures:
E

Increase the percentage of primary energy from renewable sources.

Increasing energy efficiency significantly in various forms of energy use.

Migration of use of fossil fuels for electricity or directly for sources of renewable origin.
Total investment by the end of 2020, for implementation of the Action Plan for Sustainable Energy of
conomic
the Azores archipelago, is about 450 million euros, distributed by sector energy consumption by type
and promoter.
By the nature of the measures outlined in the Action Plans, the 3 sectors of consumption where they
occur are in the residential sector, the transport sector and in the secondary energy production
sector.
The distribution of investment is about one third for each sector, with a higher incidence in the
residential sector.
As for the percentage of investment that it’s adequate to each type of promoter, there are two
aspects that contribute to a superior value of private investments:

there are measures that arise from Action Plans for the residential sector and transport,
including actions most likely happen outside the ISLE-PACT;

there are actions whose budget is still unknown and therefore it is not accounted for the
budget of public investment, particularly in terms of production of secondary energy and
public transport.
S
Benefits to local communities in the form of investment in local communities, training opportunities,
ocial
creation of skilled jobs and supply chain contracts for local companies.
The region will import less fossil fuels, and will save funds that can be used to other areas, such as
education, and health care (examples)
T
echnological
There is a lack of local know how with offshore wind power plants and wind analysis experience;
The Azores have a great potential in this sector, in which it is intended will assume a prominent
position, however this will only be possible with parallel investments in infrastructures that allows
improved grid stability (e.g. flywheels, sodium-sulfur batteries, etc.). That would increase a greater
penetration of this renewable energy.
It will only be possible to implement offshore wind turbines only after the maturity of floating
platform technologies, because our coast is deep at a short distance of the shore. However our
region could be a good place to the development of floating platforms in deep water.
E
The Azores rely on their healthy environment image to export our products, and also to promote
nvironmental
tourism. There are some environmental constraints regarding some areas offshore. Those rules
should be attended so that a project of this nature would not affect negatively marine life, and
important geological structures.
L
egal
There is currently no support for the licensing of such pioneering projects in the Azores. However it
should have some common points to the procedures to license onshore wind plants. The applicable
laws should be the following:

Regional Legislative Decree n. 15/96/A - Principles of organization of the electricity sector and
the legal regime of the production, transmission and distribution of electric energy in Azores
Autonomous Region;

Regional Legislative Decree n. 26/96/A - Legal regime for power generation not linked to
public service;

R.L.I.E. - The Regulation of Licenses for Electrical Installations.
In your region
Strengths

Natural and structural conditions.

Existence of a annual potential production of
Weaknesses

Electric power production integration can not be
completely adjustable to the demand needs in each
electricity estimated at 127GWh/year, for the nine
islands of the Azores.
moment, due to the intermittent nature of this
energy source, which entails severe restrictions on
isolated networks, becoming more severe, the lesser
is the short-circuit power available.

Existence of an area of at least 1000 km2,

appropriate to the use of this resource in the Azores.

inherent risks and significant financial requirements
until they reach a stage of economic viability.
High potential of this energy source in the Azores,
especially in areas near the coast and the North face
Technology is still under development with the

Existence of some vicissitudes in the exploration of
Central Oscillating Water Column of Pico Island
(rounding to 100%), with little use conflicts.
(completed in 1999, it has not been running

Existence of electric grid connection points very close
to the coast, a critical factor, especially in the case of
continuously).

Erection of installations in harsh environment
small powers installed at an early stage of
(exposure to corrosion and weather conditions
development.
sometimes very rough) which increases maintenance
needs and reduce their reliability.

Existence of know-how in the Azores, arising from
participation in project development, construction and
operation of the Oscillating Water Column of Pico
Island.

Existence of national capacity (from the state
institutes, universities and shipyards), in collaboration
with international teams for development,
construction and installation of offshore systems.

Existence of active and engaged research with
international recognition and experience from initial
design through to construction and operation.

High capital intensive and high risk.

Eccentricity, which may adversely affect the delivery
time of parts and equipment that can not be
transported by air.

Academic achievement reflected in a growing number
of doctorates in wave energy.

Large number of international publications.

Launch and coordination from the beginning (2001),
International Program on RTD Ocean Energy, under
the International Energy Agency.

Existence of a significant number of Portuguese
companies interested in the subject, which were
associated with R & D institutions, linking up neatly
with those institutions.

Government policy favorable.

Availability of funding through R & D programs.
Outside your region
Opportunities

Threats
If confirmed the technological and economic feasibility
of wave energy in the Azores, the following

environment, sometimes very adverse.
opportunities can be identified:

- Important contribute to the production of electricity
by this type of renewable source.
- Azores contribution to the economy and labor
market development due to the emergence of new
industrial activity with great internal potential and
worldwide exportation , in addition to other gains.
- Azores contribution to the development of
technologies with application in ocean exploitation of
other marine resources
Technical difficulties associated with marine
Competitiveness for other types of primary
energy sources such as wind or geothermal.