Berta Cabral says Azorean Energy Strategy 2030 is ambitious and aims to decarbonise and increase renewable energy sources - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, defended on Wednesday in Ponta Delgada that the Azorean Energy Strategy 2030 "is a guiding document with ambitious goals for decarbonising the regional economy and increasing renewable energy sources."

The government official, who spoke at the opening session of CE4EUI - Clean Energy For EU Islands - Forum 2025, stated that the aim is to "drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels and move towards greater energy autonomy, based on efficiency and sustainability."

She continued: "By 2030, we aim to reduce the use of butane gas by 50%; increase energy efficiency by 25% in land transport; increase energy efficiency in buildings by 28%; improve energy efficiency by 40% in companies; achieve 70% renewable electricity; improve energy efficiency by 33%; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%."

However, Berta Cabral called for caution in this process, stating that "the green transition is necessary and desirable but requires a responsible, sustained and technically sound approach. The recent blackout that affected several countries, especially Spain and Portugal, should serve as a warning about the risks that can arise in an increasingly complex electricity system."

Berta Cabral stated that the EU Clean Energy for Islands Initiative "is an essential tool for achieving one of the most important goals of our time: energy transition."

According to her, European islands "should be regarded as living laboratories to facilitate this transition. This is an opportunity and a priority we cannot miss, and the “Clean Energy for EU Islands” initiative has been a key catalyst for mobilising, empowering and financing this transformation."

"The Azores are committed to this process and were even one of the first island regions to join the initiative. We will make the most of the cooperation, technical assistance and resources it provides, and we will work to turn this commitment into action, tangible projects and measurable results," she said.

The Regional Secretary also pointed out that this challenge is even more demanding for the Azores.

She explained: "We are an outermost region, made up of nine islands, with nine independent microgrids, no interconnection, limited storage capacity and little capacity to respond to extreme events. As such, we must manage the transition with stability and a firm grasp of technological and financial reality."

Berta Cabral also assured that the Regional Government will continue to follow the path of sustainable development with determination, exploring all the technical and financial possibilities to promote the decarbonisation of the economy and greater use of clean energy sources.