Solar energy in Portugal: development perspectives based on a comparison with Germany

• Autor(a) principal: Virgilio, Rodrigo Pedro da Piedade Coelho
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/1797
• topic: Renewable energies; Solar energy; Development policies; Portugal-Germany; Energias renováveis; Energia solar; Políticas de desenvolvimento; Portugal-Alemanha

Solar energy is one of the renewable energies that has greater potential for future development. Portugal is one of the European countries with better solar conditions, but is certainly not one of the countries that has been taking the best advantage of it. It is therefore appropriate to know why Portugal is not using and developing solar energy in accordance with its wide availability. On the other hand, Germany is using solar energy as no other country and is currently one of the leading nations in this sector. After a comparative study of the photovoltaic and solar thermal markets in Portugal and Germany, the conclusion is that the different stage of development between the two countries is largely the result of the different policies adopted. That is, the development of solar energy depends not only on the solar radiation of each country, but above all on the policies adopted to promote its development and enhance these markets. According to the findings of this comparative study and taking in consideration the trends in the solar energy sector, a set of strategic guidelines for the future development of solar industry in Portugal was defined.