Lisbon, Nov. 5, 2025 (Lusa) - The Minister for the Environment and Energy said on Tuesday in parliament that offshore wind energy production will only be built when it is economically viable, which is "a long way off".
"Offshore wind will only exist when it is economically viable, until then there is no decision," said minister Maria da Graça Carvalho, who was heard for around five hours in parliament, as part of the specialised assessment of the proposed State Budget for 2026.
Chega had asked the minister about the development of offshore wind farms in the Porto district and whether she confirmed the possible reduction in fishing activity in those areas.
Maria da Graça Carvalho emphasised that no decisions have been made regarding this type of energy production, there is only a plan of potential areas for its implementation.
"We will only authorise it taking into account all the environmental and economic impacts and if it is economically viable, at the moment offshore wind is very far from being economically viable," the minister stressed.
The Allocation Plan for Offshore Renewable Energies (PAER) was approved by the cabinet on 9 January and defined the areas and volumes of national maritime space for the commercial exploitation of offshore wind energy.
The project, which began under the previous Socialist government, envisaged the creation of an offshore wind farm in Portugal, with 10 gigawatts (GW) of power, and delimited Viana do Castelo, Leixões, Figueira da Foz, Ericeira-Cascais and Sines as possible areas for the exploitation of renewable energies.
Several fishing industry associations expressed concerns about the impact on fishing communities and marine fauna and the project's Strategic Environmental Assessment assumed that the installation of offshore wind farms "should lead to the scrapping of vessels" and reduce fishing.
The final plan, published in Diário da República on February 7, provides for a total area for exploitation of 2,711.6 square kilometres (km2), which includes an area of 5.6 km2 in Aguçadoura (Póvoa de Varzim), for the installation of non-commercial research and demonstration projects, representing a decrease of 470 km2 compared to the proposal submitted for public discussion.
Thus, an area of 229 km2 is planned in Viana do Castelo for a power of 0.8 GW; 722 km2 in Leixões (2.5 GW); 1,325 km2 in Figueira da Foz (4.6 GW); 430 km2 in Sines (1.5 GW); and 5.6 km2 in Aguçadoura.
"The final area of the PAER makes it possible to achieve an installed power for commercial projects of around 9.4 GW and to accommodate environmental impact mitigation measures that are deemed necessary in the environmental impact assessment of offshore renewable energy projects, as well as the spaces needed to safeguard navigation corridors and minimise the wake effect between wind farms," the document said.
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