Portugal Could Slash 2030 Climate Targets

Portugal could be the first of many EU countries to slash its 2030 climate targets due to delays and economic troubles, according to industry experts, cited by Montel.

• The country was likely to lower capacity in the next offshore wind auction, as well as the green hydrogen target for the end of the decade, energy minister Maria da Graca Carvalho said.
  
• Portugal has 5.4GW onshore wind, 3GW solar, and 8.4GW hydropower currently and plans for 2GW floating offshore wind and auctioning up to 8GW more by 2030, with a goal of 5.5GW electrolysers by then.
• But the goals were “very ambitious and the timing is not right – targets need to be streamlined as 2030 is just around the corner,” consultant for Portugal advisory Afry, Ignacio Cobo said.
• And “At some point, the European Commission is going to have to do the exercise of revising the targets,” CEO of Portuguese renewables lobby Pedro Amaral added.
• Portugal plans to unveil its new roadmap to 2030 this month and is still targeting carbon neutrality by 2045- 5 years sooner than previous plans.