In Short : Portugal has initiated the Expression of Interest (EoI) stage for its offshore wind tender, marking a significant step in the country’s renewable energy expansion efforts. By inviting expressions of interest, Portugal is encouraging potential developers and stakeholders to participate in the offshore wind project. This move aligns with Portugal’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity and reducing carbon emissions. Offshore wind energy projects are vital in harnessing the power of wind resources from the sea, contributing to sustainable energy generation and supporting the country’s transition towards cleaner energy sources.
In Detail : The Portuguese government has launched the initial stage of a competitive procedure for the development of offshore wind power generation in three areas off the Atlantic coast.
Those who want to participate in the tender have time until November 14 to express their interest. Subsequently, they will be invited to join the discussions in relation to the structuring of the pre-qualification and bidding models.
The procedure is based on the areas defined in the Allocation Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (PAER), which entered a 30-day public consultation on October 30, 2023. In July, a working group established by the government proposed that the country initially tenders up to 3.5 GW in the areas of Viana do Castelo, Leixoes and Figueira da Foz in one or more competitive procedures.
Portugal’s goal is to award 10 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and to have 2 GW installed by that same year. The country has only 25 MW in operation, which come from a floating wind park built by EDP Renewables and Engie, through their Ocean Winds joint venture, as well as Repsol and Principle Power.