Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
And the summer hasn’t even begun so that share is likely to go up even more
Last year, in the midst of the energy anxiety that had taken over Europeans, Portugal decided to act and installed 0.9 GW of solar photovoltaics, which boosted its capacity to generate electricity to a total of 2,5 GW. That alone is enough to power 1 million homes.
That investment in power-producing capacity is now reaping rewards, after April reports show that 51% of the Iberian country’s electricity comes from two renewable sources, namely solar and wind. This is the first time such a share has been reached in the history of Portugal. And given the fact that renewable energy production through solar generation is most potent in the summer months, that means that the record-breaking numbers can improve even further.
Portugal’s southern and seaside location is ideal for harnessing the powers of the sun and wind.
Wind power and interconnection made it possible for Portugal to phase out coal in 2021; solar is now pushing gas off the grid,” explains Matt Ewen, an analyst from Ember, a think tank studying global processes of electric power production.
Part of the wind and solar success can also be attributed to the chronic drought that has plagued the Mediterranean and which has affected another renewable source of power production – hydropower. But despite the dip in water-generated electricity, there was also a dip in the consumption of fossil fuels for that sector (24%), spurred by electricity imports from Spain and lower demand.
With regard to wind-generated power, there hasn’t been a significant boost in capacity, which already accounts for 5.6 GW. However, at the start of the year, the Portuguese government announced that by the end of 2023, there is a plan to launch an auction for the first offshore wind turbine farms.
The aim of the authorities is to have the offshore sector reach capacity of 10 GW by 2030.
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
The benefit will last until the Dutch parliament adopts the transgender law
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team