The municipalities of Boticas, Pampilhosa da Serra, Arganil, Góis, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, and Silves are set to host new “thermal and electric power units based on residual forest biomass,” backed by a two-million-euro investment from the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
According to the Ministry, led by Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Climate Agency (ApC), an entity under the Ministry of Environment and Energy, has completed the selection process for applications to the “Local-scale energy generation in small biomass plants” notice, financed by the Environmental Fund.
The Ministry stated that the co-financing rate could be up to 100% of eligible expenses, with a cap of 500,000 euros per project.
This initiative is part of the National Integrated Rural Fire Management Plan (PNGIFR), aiming to replace fossil fuels, reduce forest fire risk, and promote local economic development by “leveraging endogenous resources and fostering partnerships with regional forest producers and companies.”
In a statement, the Minister of Environment and Energy emphasized that this represents “a concrete example of how environmental policies intersect with civil protection, local economy, and energy transition.”
