Photo Credit: Retrieved from euronews.com
As Europe steers towards its climate objectives how will remote island communities transition from fossil fuels to greener alternatives? Madeira has the answer and is fast becoming a benchmark for generating renewable energy.
Thanks to a centuries-old water transportation system, authorities in the regions have been channelling water from the humid north to the drier south for generations. A project co-funded by the European Cohesion Policy has availed of these ancient tunnels to transport water to the Socorridos hydroelectric power station which provides the entire island with power and electricity all year round.
But what role will renewable energies in Madeira play in the context of climate change? Beatriz Rodrigues Jardim, the Head of Quality, Environment and Safety at the Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira (EEM), a regional utility company, explains.