Regional Government resumed assessment of applications for SOLENERGE programme - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, has resumed the assessment of applications for the SOLENERGE programme, which will be carried out by the Regional Directorate for Energy.

Created under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), SOLENERGE now has a budget limit of 60 million Euros, following its reprogramming, with applications being assessed in the order of submission.

These incentives are intended to support the installation of solar photovoltaic systems, according to the Regional Legislative Decree published this month in the Official Gazette.

The budget increase follows the reprogramming of the RRP, resulting in an additional increase of 41 million Euros over the initially planned budget of 19 million Euros.

According to the legal document, the aim is to "contract 27 MW of additional power," promoting the self-consumption of clean electricity and contributing to the energy transition in the Azores.

SOLENERGE covers 100% of eligible expenses for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems, up to a limit of 1,500 Euros per kilowatt installed. It is intended for citizens and collective entities, except the regional administration and direct State administration.

The measure has contributed to an increase in decentralised energy production from renewable sources, placing the end consumer "at the heart of the energy system."

The new rules apply to ongoing processes that have already been approved or are under assessment. They will enter into force on the day following their publication.

According to the Regional Secretary, Berta Cabral, the aim is to ensure the swift and efficient analysis of each application.

The government official highlighted the financial increase in the RRP reprogramming by 41 million Euros and recalled that SOLENERGE has been in force since September 2022, as part of Investment C14-i03-RAA- Energy Transition in the Azores, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

“The strong demand for SOLENERGE evidences that this was an effective measure, which significantly contributed to reducing the energy bills of Azorean households and businesses, while promoting the energy transition of the Azores in a practical manner," concluded Berta Cabral.

This programme was created by the Regional Government in September 2022 to support the acquisition and installation of solar photovoltaic systems in the Region.

It should be noted that, as of June 30, this year, there were 5,321 investment proposals submitted, with an approved incentive of 19 million Euros, representing an approved capacity of 14,088.28 kW. These include 1,698 applications that have been fully completed, corresponding to an allocation of €16,945,228.16 and an installed power of 12,524.92 kW, and serving about 1,500 households across the Region.