Carlos Pimenta. When there are competitions like wind energy, there are no excessive rents – Observer

Former Secretary of State for the Environment, Carlos Pimenta, on Friday denied the existence of excessive revenue from wind energy since calls for electricity were made by the government. Offers were legal, transparent and "aligned" on compensation in the European Union

For Carlos Pimenta, there is no surplus revenue in wind farms. There have been competitions and when there are competitions, there is no lace by definition. In Portugal, he defends, there were gains for the state, for the autarchies and a new industry was created that she called "Autoeuropa do vento", with lower rates than those attributed to other countries. "Where are the excessive revenues?"

The former PSD politician, who is also involved as an entrepreneur and manager of several wind power projects in Portugal, is heard Friday in the parliamentary commission to investigate excessive energy revenues Questioned by Emídio Guerreiro of the PSD on the concentration in time of the policies of support to the producers of energy financed by the prices of the electricity, Carlos Pimenta estimates " that today it would have been possible to do better. "

2007 – everything happens at the same time, the final approval of the CMEC regime (costs of maintaining the contractual balance) and the call for bids for the award wind energy.

Although he admits that it would have been possible to do better, the former leader, who is heard as a specialist, comments that "everyone is hitting Totobola on Monday, but he does not." When we judge a policy, we must place ourselves in the historical context of the decision maker.In response to Socialist MP Luis Testa, Carlos Pimenta argues that Portugal has done better than Spain whose 39, wind industry is here and challenges members of the commission revenues to spend a day with it,

Since his initial intervention, Carlos Pimenta has raised questions about the defense of wind energy against attacks from those who point out the extra cost paid to these producers as the heaviest income in the final price of electricity

Whereas the account for the cost of wind energy must include the impact environmental alternatives to pr fossil energy production, Pimenta says that a coal-fired power plant like Sines only turns into energy one-third of the fuel that it burns. The rest is in the center and "serves to warm the water for surfers (beach of S. Torpes)". For the former governor, the Portuguese governments have been able to register technological improvements because protected tariffs for initial wind energy contracts are declining and those awarded for the 2006 tender offer are lower than French and German tariffs.

It also highlights the creation of a new industry with 4,000 jobs and exports, reducing CO2 emissions and fuel imports. What if we did not make the wind? Alternatives were natural gas or nuclear. Natural gas, although more efficient than coal, also produces emissions and depends on gas imports and is vulnerable to price fluctuations. Carlos Pimenta says that at current prices, from 70 to 75 euros per megawatt hour, most of the wind is already competitive

. What about nuclear? "It 's not an option for Portugal, it' s a shame – there 's something I' ve done that I 've been proud of, I' d like. have been involved in the decision not to make nuclear. "Despite the fact that the nuclear option is a legitimate discussion, Carlos Pimenta mainly highlights the financial risk of this investment for a country like Portugal. And it recalls the history of the new generation reactor commissioned by Finland for 3.500 million euros and is expected to be ready in 2009.

We are in 2018 and this factory does not work not. Siemens left the consortium and abandoned the nuclear and the French continued and the account is already at 11 billion euros. The French state has forced EDF to build a new plant and the cost is already 12 billion. Imagine the financial risk. This is to put the eggs in the same basket. And if the factory stops?

Carlos Pimenta also recalled the problem of waste that has not been solved and recalled a European Convention limiting the payment of damages in the event of a nuclear accident.

If there is an accident in Spain, compensation The maximum amount paid by the operator is 700 million and the state pays 800 million euros. The losses of Fukoshima are already more than nine billion. Nuclear power is a zero option for Portugal. "

Carlos Pimenta was also confronted with expressions heard in the inquiry commission of personalities who criticized support for renewable energies, such as the" electric monster "- denounced by Mira Amaral – and the" explosive cocktail " By Pedro Clemente Nunes. " [196459003] Still on the economic problem of wind energy and the weight they have." Carlos Pimenta points out that wind farms awarded in 2006 already have lower rates than combined cycle power plants (natural gas). And the highest rates, awarded in 2002, will end in two years. He also points out that in the next decade, machines will be recycled to equipment with higher capacity and a market regime.