Lisbon, Aug. 20, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's government gave preliminary approval to areas in about 170 municipalities for solar and wind energy projects, the minister of cabinet affairs announced on Thursday.
The sectoral programme for zones dedicated to the acceleration and implementation of renewable energy, approved today, defines «a series of areas across the country where the licensing and investment in solar and wind projects are faster, with shorter deadlines and exemptions from specific environmental impact assessments», explained António Leitão Amaro at a press conference following the meeting.
The programme, he added, covers «more than 800 areas» within that series of municipalities, located on the Portuguese mainland.
The government identified the areas «based on their potential and the available land», as well as the existing culture of implementing projects in this field, he said.
Pre-approval means the projects will be implemented faster, enabling Portugal to produce more green energy within its own territory, António Leitão Amaro explained.
When asked whether the area had been reduced due to objections from some municipalities, the minister of cabinet affairs clarified that the approximately 800 areas correspond to around 1% of mainland Portugal's area and that this figure was determined following public consultation, taking into account a range of potential and limitations.
On the one hand, «energy potential» was taken into account and, on the other, «limitations and considerations» relating to the environment, agriculture, water resources, cultural heritage, certain defence-related administrative facilities and other infrastructure, as well as the need to meet renewable energy targets, he explained.
The cabinet today approved another measure, a draft bill, which provides for data interoperability between public administration departments, enabling citizens to submit documents to the State just once, said Leitão Amaro.
«An interoperability platform already exists within the public administration, but due to a series of constraints, requirements, successive consents and the need for bilateral protocols, its functionality is very limited,» he said.
The bill, he explained, ensures that a citizen or a business «should only have to submit documents to the state once – and thereafter it is the state that must search amongst its own records for documents and information it already holds».
PCT/ADB // ADB.
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