Approved applications for energy efficiency projects exceed RRP targets - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

In response to yet another baffling attempt at misinformation and unfounded criticism by the leader of the Azores Socialist Party, the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures has once again issued a public statement refuting these claims, this time regarding energy efficiency support.

The SOLENERGE programme, which has won national awards and received recognition from RRP management bodies, is a true success story unlike any other in the Azores, having received over 8,400 applications.

As of today, 5,665 applications have been approved, representing an approved investment totalling €59.8 million. It should be noted that the original SOLENERGE budget stood at €19 million. This figure increased to €60 million in light of the successful management and implementation ahead of schedule (December 31, 2025) by the Regional Government and the installation companies, contrary to all doomsday scenarios systematically put forward by the Socialist Party.

The 5,665 aforementioned applications already represent 42.5 MW of contracted capacity, i.e. exceeding the RRP target of 38.2 MW and far exceeding the original target of 11.2 MW. This means that 111.2% of the current target has already been contracted.

The installation of this contracted capacity depends solely and exclusively on the equipment suppliers and the beneficiaries of the equipment; 29.2 MW (76.4% of the target) is currently installed, with the remainder due to be completed within the next three months. This installed capacity represents an investment by the beneficiaries of €25.8 million, with approximately €25.7 million already paid by the Region.

This is an unprecedented achievement for the Regional Directorate for Energy as well as for the supply and installation of photovoltaic panels in the Region. It demonstrates an effort that deserves recognition for all those involved, who, even in the face of very demanding targets and an extremely adverse economic context, managed to create the conditions for the fulfilment of the contractual targets in their entirety—a responsibility that now lies with installers and beneficiaries.

Regarding Proenergia/RePowerEU, once again, Francisco César has chosen to spread false information that bears no resemblance to reality, revealing a worrying lack of preparation and an evident lack of knowledge.

As of today, the set target of 8.75 MWh has been exceeded, with 9.2 MWh already contracted. A total of €4.3 million in funding has been approved, with €3.9 million of this amount already paid out.

These figures completely contradict the claims made by the main opposition party. These results show that more families and businesses have, and will have, in the coming weeks, solar panels and batteries in their homes and buildings, thereby increasing their energy efficiency and significantly reducing electricity costs. This represents an unprecedented shift in the Region regarding the energy transition, with impacts to be felt for many years to come, bringing direct benefits to the Azorean population. 

Furthermore, the Regional Government is preparing a new system of incentives for energy efficiency, through "Azores 2030," to be implemented after the end of the RRP-Azores, targeting new types of equipment and interventions that will lead to improvements in business infrastructure and households.

In the area of electric mobility, the Government of the Azores has launched several initiatives, including an incentive scheme for the purchase of electric vehicles (currently suspended due to the priority given to implementing the RRP); the implementation of a public network of charging stations for electric vehicles, in partnership with Azorean municipalities, already comprising 96 charging stations across all municipalities in the Region; and specific support for the decarbonisation of the taxi fleet, for which the 2026 application process will be made available in the coming weeks.

The Government of the Azores considers it a serious matter that the Socialist Party has chosen to maintain a stance that undermines the image of the Region, and the competence and dedication of the entire team of experts and officials within the Regional Public Administration. They have strived to meet, with distinction, all the major challenges they have faced in recent years, whether due to the demands of the Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) or the increasingly problematic international situation.

The Government of the Azores is proud of the work carried out by all these people, the significant results achieved to date, and those that are set to be achieved by the time the RRP is completed. Its positive impacts are being felt, and will be felt even more so, throughout the economy and the daily lives of families and businesses.