1. UNSDG#7: USE OF
ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES ON
TERCEIRA ISLAND – TOTAL
ELECTRIFICATION,
ELIMINATING THE USE OF
FOSSIL FUELS
Ana Rosa Silva
Carolina Ferreira
Lara Leite
June 5-9, 2023

2. WHAT PATH SHOULD WE FOLLOW TO ACHIVE
TOTAL ELECTRIFICATION AND TO ELIMINATE THE
USE OF FOSSIL FUELS ON TERCEIRA ISLAND?

3. Renewable energy sources ensured, in
2019, around 38% of the total electricity
produced in the Azores archipelago, with
geothermal sources assuming the
predominant role (24%), followed by wind
(9%) and hydro (4%).
RENEWABLE
ENERGIES

4. HOW HAS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTED
RENEWABLE ENERGIES ON TERCEIRA
ISLAND?
Geothermal energy: Geothermal energy is obtained from the heat inside the Earth. Therefore, there is loss of
geothermal power as a function of temperature (production decreases with the increasing of the temperature).
Wind energy: Global warming results in a weakening of
the thermal gradient between the poles and the equator,
which causes a difference in the wind speed at the
surface. Strong winds are less frequent, more stable and
give rise to greater and more stable wind power and that
accumulates more production of energy. Light winds are
more frequent and less stable, which results in lower and
less stable wind power.
Hydro energy: During the periods of low
rainfall that are caused by climate change,
water production falls little compared to the fall
in the precipitation rate. When precipitation
increases again, the productive capacity is
quickly recovered. However, forecasts point to
a worsening of the availability of this type of
energy during some months of the year.

5. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
The heat release that exists inside the Earth is more
intense in the active zones of the borders of the
tectonic plates of the globe, as is the case of the
Azores.
The three geothermal power plants in the Azores,
together, were responsible, in 2019, for 23.6% of the
electricity produced in the archipelago.

6. Ribeira Grande
São Miguel
(13 MW)
Pico Vermelho
São Miguel
(10 MW)
Pico Alto
Terceira
(3,5 MW)

7. Pico Alto,
Terceira
On Terceira Island, in 2019, the Pico Alto Geothermal Power Station
produced about 12.5% ​​of the total energy on the island.

8. WIND ENERGY
The use of wind energy is based on the transformation
of kinetic energy contained in moving air masses
(wind) into electrical energy, through wind turbines.
The use of new technologies allows an increasingly
efficient use of wind power, which is clean, renewable
and abundant on Terceira Island.

9. Currently, the Azores have 9 wind
farms (25,05 MW) on 8 islands of
the archipelago.
In 2019, approximately 9% of the
energy obtained in the Azores
resulted from the use of this clean
energy source.

10. On Terceira Island, there is the Serra do Cume wind farm, which
produces about 16% of the energy.
Serra do Cume,
Terceira

11. HYDRO ENERGY
Hydroelectric energy is obtained through the kinetic energy of water.
The 12 hydroelectric power stations, spread across the islands of São
Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Flores, total an installed capacity of 8.41
MW.
In the Azores, in 2019, around 3.6% of the energy was obtained by
using water courses to produce electricity.
In the Azores, there are not large hydrographic basins able to store large
amounts of water, so hydroelectric power plants are operated on a
trickle basis, that is, all the water that flows in the stream is immediately
used.

12. When there are favorable conditions for the production of
renewable energies, there is excess of it. However, without these
conditions, there is no production.
Without storage, it is not possible to guarantee the satisfaction of
human needs with just one form of energy use.
Therefore, it is always necessary the interconnection of
renewable energies with other types of energy.
RENEWABLE ENERGIES DEPEND
ON NATURAL FACTORS

13. One way to store energy is its
transformation into hydrogen.
Whenever its use was necessary, the
amount of hydrogen to be used would
be burned, now as electricity.
Waste Recovery Plant, located on Terceira Island, with a
production capacity of 2.62 MW.
HOW DO WE STORE ENERGY?

14. On March 13, 2023, a BESS System was
inaugurated on Terceira Island, which aims to
reduce dependence on fossil fuels, making the
island’s renewable production profitable.
The BESS System - Battery Energy Storage
System - has an installed capacity of 15MW,
distributed over six inverters and a storage capacity
of 10.5 MWh.
THE BESS SYSTEM

15. ➔ Investment in the increase and revitalization of the useful
installed power in geothermal energy for the production of
electricity, will allow an increase in the decarbonization of the
electricity sector, through the increase of clean energy by
replacing part of the fossil-based thermal energy.
➔ The installation of more wind turbines will allow an increase in
the annual production of the total energy produced on the
island.
HOW TO INCREASE THE
PRODUCTION OF
RENEWABLE ENERGIES?

16. ✔ After implementing the transition process, it
would take another 5 years to reach around
50% of renewable energy.
✔ After 10 years, we would reach approximately
70% of energy and only after 20 years it would
be possible to reach almost 100% of renewable
energy, including transport.
This transition
takes at least 5
years to occur.
HOW LONG DOES THIS
TRANSITION TAKE?

17. The Regional Government of the Azores has developed programs to support the population for the
installation of renewable energy sources.
Proenergia is a system of incentives for the production and storage of energy from renewable
sources that is available in order to stimulate the production and storage of electrical and heat
energy, essentially destined for self-consumption, by families, companies, cooperatives, non-profit
associations and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity.

18. BIBLIOGRAPHY/WEBGRAPHY
http://geoelvas.blogspot.com/2012/04/juncao-tripla-dos-acores.html
https://angradoheroismo.pt/recolha-de-residuos/
https://portaldaenergia.azores.gov.pt/proenergia/login.aspx
https://portaldaenergia.azores.gov.pt/portal/POLITICA-ENERGETICA/Renov%C3%A1veis
https://www.integrasources.com/blog/energy-management-and-energy-saving-bess/
https://www.portal-energia.com/acores-destacam-se-a-nivel-nacional-na-geotermia/
https://www.macedoarquitectos.com/projecto/central-geotermica-da-ribeira-grande/
http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/energia/geotermia/Central-PicoAlto/galeria/28.html
http://numerosenumeros.blogspot.com/2018/02/central-geotermica-da-terceira-podera.html
https://portaldaenergia.azores.gov.pt/portal/PRR/Energia-Geotermica
https://repositório.uac.pt/handle/10400.3/6392
https://docs-agric.azores.gov.pt/Portal/file__04-12-2019_10-17-30.9659261.pdf

19. WE HAVE A LOT TO THANK THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR. WE ARE A FRUIT
OF NATURE. WE ARE PART OF IT.
LET´S PRESERVE IT!