Berta Cabral says Azores are strengthening their leadership in energy innovation with European EV4EU project - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, highlighted today in Ponta Delgada the strategic importance of the European project EV4EU – Electric Vehicles Management for Carbon Neutrality in Europe – for the energy future of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The government official spoke at the auditorium of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC) during a presentation session on the results of the project’s Portuguese demonstration site, located on the island of São Miguel.

Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, EV4EU “has placed the Azores at the heart of the European debate on innovative solutions for integrating electric mobility into energy systems,” she said.

Berta Cabral praised the role of the Regional Directorate for Energy and LREC, emphasising that the inclusion of Azorean entities in an international consortium “demonstrates the existing high technical capacity in the Region and the value of initiatives that bring knowledge, innovation and practical experience to the Azores.”

These projects “are not merely academic or laboratory experiments, but rather tangible tools for regional capacity-building, which are essential for bringing the Azores into line with European best practices,” she added, emphasising that “innovation is a key pillar in energy transition.”

According to Berta Cabral, “a sustainable future cannot exist without smart technological solutions, new energy management models and the consistent integration of sectors such as energy and mobility,”

The government official emphasised that electric mobility represents “a unique opportunity to speed up decarbonisation, increase the efficiency of the electricity system and strengthen the integration of renewable energy sources,” highlighting the Azores’ leading role in this field.

Berta Cabral also pointed out the Region’s consistent investment in renewable sources, with a particular focus on geothermal energy, a clear example of the commitment to endogenous resources that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, decrease emissions, and strengthen energy security.

In this context, the government official stated that electric mobility plays a central role in the regional strategy, highlighting the Azores Electric Mobility Plan (PMEA) as a key tool in the Government's vision for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable economy. The EV4EU project “has added significant value to this journey,” she added. 

EV4EU has developed and tested innovative strategies for the smart management of electric vehicles, with a particular focus on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions. They demonstrate how vehicles can evolve from mere energy consumers into distributed storage units with the capacity to support the power grid, absorb surplus renewable energy and strengthen the system’s resilience, which is particularly relevant in island regions such as the Azores.

According to the Regional Secretary, the demonstration project set up in São Miguel “has helped us to identify limitations, consolidate our knowledge and draw key lessons for future developments.” In this regard, she emphasised that even when implementation is not immediate, “the knowledge acquired is undeniably valuable and provides a solid foundation for new approaches and projects."

In a world marked by constant change, Berta Cabral emphasised the urgent need to invest in innovation,  energy transition and the diversification of energy sources to build “a more resilient, secure and prosperous future.”

The Regional Secretary also highlighted the contribution of projects developed under the RRP, through which EDA has boosted power generation for public supply, whilst private entities, alongside SOLENERGE, have invested in self-consumption.

In this context, she emphasised that projects such as EV4EU “prove that the Azores are well placed to play an active role in shaping the energy solutions of the future, contributing to regional, national and European carbon neutrality targets.”

“This is a path we are successfully following, recognised internationally, and one that positions us among the best benchmarks for sustainable development,” she said, concluding that the energy transition in the Region “is a strategic plan built in a structured and coherent manner.”

Berta Cabral concluded by advocating that “it is vital that public and private entities, and every citizen, assume their role autonomously, knowingly and responsibly in this transformative process.”