The Ministry of Environment and Energy announced on Saturday that 51 targets under its responsibility within the Recovery and Resilience Plan were fully met, with a total investment exceeding 1.8 billion euros. Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho highlighted that the investments translated into concrete results for families, public services and the country's capacity to respond to climate and energy challenges.
In water management and strengthening water resilience, Algarve concentrated 106 million euros in the Regional Water Efficiency Plan. 204 kilometres of urban networks were intervened, above the minimum target of 125 kilometres, allowing savings of 2.56 cubic hectometres of water. Four wastewater treatment plants were intervened, with capacity to annually provide eight cubic hectometres of water for reuse, and the water transfer capacity between Sotavento and Barlavento increased to 600 litres per second.
In energy efficiency and combating energy poverty, approximately 556 million euros were executed, covering more than 85,000 households through the Support Program for More Sustainable Buildings, 20,000 Efficiency Vouchers and 53,600 vouchers from the E-LAR program. In the energy transition, approximately 267 million euros were invested in hydrogen and renewable gases, and 180 million euros in electrical grid flexibility and energy storage.
In public transport, the investment made it possible to reach 952 zero-emission buses, surpassing the target of 860 vehicles set out in the PRR. In the blue economy, the "Smart Ocean" hubs of Peniche, Leixões I and Algarve were built, and the Aveiro hub was renovated. In the bioeconomy and waste sector, projects in the textile, clothing, footwear and natural resin sectors were supported, including the approval of the new General Waste Management Regime.
