October 11, 2024 from 09:30 to 17:30
Participants: João Pedro Gouveia Pedro Palma Miguel Macias Sequeira Inês Valente
This Friday, October 11, the National Observatory of Energy Poverty (ONPE-PT) and its first Advisory Committee meeting were presented at an event organized by ADENE at the National Energy and Geology Laboratory (LNEG).
According to the National Long-Term Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty 2023-2050 (ELPPE), it is estimated that between 1.8 and 3 million people in Portugal are in a situation of energy poverty. The ELPPE aims to solve this issue, with the primary goal of eradicating energy poverty in Portugal by 2050, protecting vulnerable consumers, and actively integrating them into the energy and climate transition. This strategy has given rise to the National Observatory of Energy Poverty, whose mission is to monitor the evolution of energy poverty at a national level.
"Energy poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires an integrated and collaborative approach," said Nelson Lage, President of ADENE, as he opened the ONPE-PT presentation event. He added that the observatory "will act as a kind of knowledge center, analyzing the various facets of energy poverty and proposing integrated solutions involving energy, finance, education, solidarity, housing, health, and territorial cohesion."
Maria João Pereira, Secretary of State for Energy, and Teresa Ponce Leão, President of the National Energy and Geology Laboratory (LNEG), also attended the opening session of this initiative. Its mission is to develop, present, and implement a comprehensive action plan to combat energy poverty until 2030.
The morning session featured several discussions on energy poverty, a complex and multidimensional issue affecting both economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged families, with impacts on social well-being, quality of life, health, and work productivity.
João Pedro Gouveia, Principal Researcher at CENSE – Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, FCT-NOVA, introduced the "Energy Poverty Advisory Hub," while Rui Fragoso, Director of Buildings and Resource Efficiency at ADENE, discussed the "National Building Renovation Plan in the context of the new EPBD directive." Jorge Marques, Director of Training, Information, and Education at ADENE, presented the ONPE Portal, and Marlene Neves, Head of the Markets Division at the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), outlined the ONPE-PT Governance Model. Rita Gomes Varela, ONPE team technician, and Manuel Casquiço, Technical Coordinator of the National Long-Term Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty, both from ADENE, concluded the morning with the presentation of the Energy Poverty Combat Action Plan 2023-2030.
In the afternoon, the first Advisory Committee meeting of ONPE-PT was held, featuring several parallel sessions dedicated to each axis of the ELPPE. Representatives from DGEG, ADENE, LNEG, ERSE, AD&C, INE, CENSE-NOVA-FCT, several other entities and the Leaders of the Action Units participated in these working groups, focusing on the strategy's axes: promoting the energy and environmental sustainability of housing, ensuring universal access to essential energy services, promoting integrated territorial action, and fostering knowledge and informed action.
From our team, Pedro Palma, Inês Valente, Miguel Sequeira, and João Pedro Gouveia took part in the four working groups.
Some valuable ideas emerged from this first Advisory Committee meeting to be developed in the next phases, as well as contributions to define priority action lines.
Paulo Carmona, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, closed the ONPE-PT presentation event, highlighting the strengthening of cooperation between entities and the collective effort in achieving this national goal.
The operational structure of the National Observatory of Energy Poverty consists of a Management Unit chaired by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), with technical and operational support from ADENE – Energy Agency, assisted by a Strategic Committee and an Advisory Committee.
More information about ONPE-PT can be found on the newly created website www.onpe.pt.
To know more about the event, click here.
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