Talking about the State Budget is talking about strategic options that can contribute to a sustainable and competitive development model, based on territorial cohesion and citizens’ quality of life. Where does the energy come in? In everything, being central to the green reindustrialization movement that the country needs to leverage and which can be an example for the whole of Europe.
The availability of energy for consumption is a cornerstone for modern life and the State Budget for 2026 (OE26) allocates 600 million euros to it, with the largest share being dedicated to strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of the energy system. The document, which was generally approved, notes a concern that certainly cuts across everyone: the need to guarantee lower prices for consumers and companies, attracting more investment and generating new industrial opportunities.
At a time when green reindustrialization continues to be at the top of the European agenda, it is worth returning to the Draghi Report and the topic of energy transition as an opportunity for growth. There are still several gaps, such as the lack of investment in renewable energy generation, transport and distribution infrastructure, and barriers to licensing projects that can decentralize and democratize production and consumption. On this topic, there is a bittersweet taste when we think about Portugal. It is a fact that, over the years, a leadership position in renewables has been cemented. The Renewables 2025 report from the International Energy Agency proves that Portugal is the fifth country in the world with the highest share of variable renewable energy in electrical production and these sources represent around 65% of the energy produced. And the future? In the next five years, this figure could reach around 90%.
However, innovative models such as Energy Communities, which have been present in legislation for several years, persist in not evolving at the desired speed that consumers demand. The mea culpa is even in the OE26 proposal, when it says that Energy Communities “are a fundamental instrument to accelerate the transition
energy, therefore the procedures will be reviewed and simplified with a view to their dissemination throughout the national territory”.
The promises remain: increase in installed capacity to meet ambitious goals, notably the 51% share of renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030, implementation of the one-stop shop for project licensing, consolidation of the sector’s legal framework, creation of a monitoring system and, finally, approval of the sectoral program for Renewable Energy Acceleration Areas.
Consumers are grateful. For the industry, a new horizon: the Green Industrial Strategy will be drawn up, aligned with the European Commission’s Clean Industry Pact, which defines concrete actions to decarbonize the sector, especially companies that consume more energy. This same strategy must necessarily be based on three pillars: accelerating decarbonization through the electrification and energy efficiency of industrial processes, simultaneously promoting the local production of clean energy and the development of Energy Communities; promote circularity, valuing resources and synergies between companies; and boost collaborative and partnership models that allow industries to advance in the energy transition without initial investment.