Azores also at forefront of Europe’s energy transition, stresses Artur Lima - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, who is also Vice-President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) responsible for energy, spoke at the seminar “Electrification of regional energy and transport systems: state of play, challenges and pathways,” which took place in Lahti, Finland.

On the occasion, the Vice-President of the Regional Government addressed the ongoing electrification of European transport, industry and heating systems.

“Electrification is no longer just a component of the energy transition. It is a cornerstone of Europe’s economic transformation upon which we will build our climate ambition, our industrial competitiveness and, above all, our territorial cohesion,” he emphasised.

"This transformation is not abstract. It is taking shape on the ground, across our ports, cities and rural areas, posing specific challenges for our islands and Outermost Regions,” such as the Azores, noted Artur Lima.

“Faced with an unprecedented surge in demand, we need more than just an expeditious licensing process. We need fundamental coordination between long-term planning and local implementation,” he stressed.

For the Vice-President of the Government, “electrification is European in its ambition, but local in its implementation.”

“The islands and Outermost Regions are at the forefront of the transition, often pioneering isolated energy systems and microgrids,” he noted, mentioning the example of the Azores as a region that has been increasingly committed to energy self-sufficiency and the energy transition.

However, the Vice-President warned that islands and other peripheral maritime regions “without specific support face the risk of becoming energy-isolated; therefore, it must be ensured that geographical remoteness leads neither to economic exclusion nor exacerbates territorial disparities.”

Artur Lima also addressed the three strategic priorities set out by the CPMR: the integration of systems by strengthening networks, with specific investments for islands and peripheral regions to be considered; the guarantee of regional involvement in the design of energy solutions; and the promotion of territorial governance that takes into account the maritime context and the specific characteristics of the Outermost Regions.

On a European scale, “we must ensure that electrification strengthens cohesion, not fragmentation, boosting competitiveness without exacerbating inequalities,” defended the Vice-President.

“The future European energy system will not be built solely on power stations. It will also be built in our ports, charging stations and regional planning decisions. We are key players in this transformation,” he asserted.

The seminar “Electrification of regional energy and transport systems: state of play, challenges and pathways” brought together officials and experts from the CPMR energy and transport sectors to discuss regional strategies as well as the current and future challenges in these sectors.