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4 clusters · 26 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

Renewable energy and data centre debates in Brazil and PT

Overview

Renewable energy developments in Brazil and Portugal have progressed through new regulatory and project-specific milestones. In Brazil, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Empresa de Pesquisa Energética released a standardized three-step procedure to select offshore wind development areas based on technical, economic, and socio-environmental criteria.

In Portugal, efforts to expand renewable capacity include the Southwest Wind Park project in Santiago do Cacém, which has entered a public consultation phase. This project involves 23 turbines and a lithium-battery storage system intended to power a new data centre. Building on previous efforts to accelerate licensing, the Portuguese government has approved the Sectoral Program for Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas (PSZAER), or the ‘Green Map’. Managed by the ‘Renewable Energy Project Licensing Task Force’ (EMER 2030), the program identifies over 800 priority areas for solar and wind projects to align with the EU’s RED III directive.

However, the energy strategy is facing intensified debate as the country attracts significant investment in data centres. The Sines Data Centre Campus, an 8.5 billion euro project operated by Start Campus, is a central component of Portugal’s strategy to become a European hub. Once operational, the campus could account for approximately 22% of Portugal’s total electricity consumption in 2025.

Environmental organizations, such as Zero, have raised alarms that the strategy lacks sufficient guarantees for climate transition and resource management. In Abrantes, the association Quercus has warned that mega-data centres could consume up to 19 times the annual electricity currently used by the municipality. Former Secretary of State for the Environment José Eduardo Martins has suggested that if the government pursues this expansion, the discussion regarding nuclear energy may become an “inevitable necessity” to meet the surging demand.

Entities

Start Campus · Quercus · Government of Portugal · Assembleia da República · Galp

Timeline

  1. 16 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 15 sources
    Portugal data center expansion sparks energy and environmental debate

    Portugal's push to become a data center hub is facing scrutiny over massive energy and water demands, with experts warning of unprecedented pressure on the national power grid.

  2. 19 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Portugal approves ‘Green Map’ to accelerate renewable energy projects

    Portugal has approved the ‘Green Map’ (PSZAER) plan, identifying 800+ zones to accelerate solar and wind energy projects through streamlined licensing and simplified environmental assessments.

  3. 22 days ago

    [POLITICS] 13 sources
    Portugal implements renewable energy acceleration zones and faces PSU legislative challenge

    Portuguese political parties have requested a parliamentary review of the Single Social Benefit (PSU) law, while the government moves to accelerate renewable energy via new designated acceleration zones.

  4. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Brazil unveils offshore wind methodology; Portugal opens wind park public review

    Brazil releases a three‑step offshore wind site selection method, while Portugal's 138 MW Southwest Wind Park, featuring battery storage and a data‑centre power link, opens for public consultation.

Sources

ambientemagazine.com · avozdeevora.sapo.pt · blogdomagno.com.br · click2macao.com · cmjornal.xl.pt · correiodoribatejo.pt · correiomanha.pt · eco.sapo.pt · figueiratv.pt · jornalacores9.pt · jornaleconomico.sapo.pt · magazine-hd.com · noticiaslx.pt · observador.pt · otemplario.pt · pcp.pt · peterkrantz.com · pv-magazine.es · radiohertz.pt · rn.co.mz · rr.pt · sapo.pt · thebuddhadharma.com · valor.globo.com · valorlocal.pt · vozdealenquer.pt

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history