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Lusa - Business News - Portugal: EIB grants €450M loan for electricity grid upgrade![]()
Lisbon, March 24,2023(Lusa) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €450 million loan to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) to finance renewable energy connections and the strengthening and modernisation of the Portuguese electricity transmission grid. In a joint statement released on Friday, the two entities highlight that this financing "will contribute to REN's five-year investment programme in electricity transmission (2022-2026), with an impact on different regions of Portugal" and "will also serve to support the connection and integration of renewable energy generators into the grid, contributing to a more comprehensive REPowerEU Plan, which aims to reduce Europe's dependence on fossil fuels." "This €450 million green loan provided by the EIB in Portugal is an integral part of the broader REPoEUR €werEU Plan to boost green energy financing and support EU [European Union] autonomy and competitiveness," they note. They said that the EIB's total contribution of €30 billion to REPowerEU is expected to mobilise over €115 billion of investment by 2027 in support of green technologies and Europe's energy independence from fossil fuels. According to the statement, the project is expected to support the modernisation and efficient operation of the electricity transmission grid in Portugal, aiming to increase its capacity so as to allow the connection and integration of new renewable energy generators (4.2 Gigawatt in total) and enable REN to maintain the reliability and quality of electricity supply. The extension, renovation and modernisation of lines, substations and control and protection systems are planned, with part of the project (10%) "dedicated to improving the grid's resilience to events related to climate change, for example by reinforcing towers and cables". The programme is geographically spread across mainland Portugal, and most investments are expected to take place in areas designated as "cohesion regions". "This green loan will help us do more and better in an energy system of increasing complexity. It will strengthen our investment capacity and accelerate the development of new grid projects, which will further increase the use of renewable energy," says REN's chief executive officer (CEO), quoted in the statement. According to Rodrigo Costa, "these projects are integrated in a pan-European effort that is absolutely crucial for a successful approach to the threats of climate change". The EIB's Vice-President, Ricardo Mourinho Félix, pointed out that "resilient and efficient energy networks are fundamental to a country's economy and citizens". "We are very pleased to strengthen our relationship with REN in supporting the modernisation and upgrade of the Portuguese electricity transmission grid. Additionally, with this financing, we are promoting the connection of additional generation capacity from renewable energy sources, thereby facilitating the supply of green energy to households and businesses across the country. The size of the loan also reflects the EIB's strong commitment to being a key player in Portugal's green transition," he said. PD/ADB // ADB. Lusa Agency : LUSA Date : 2023-03-25 12:10:00
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