Renewable energy big business in Portugal

Already 40% of Portugal's electricity come from renewable sources, mainly wind and hydro, but further movement towards green energy creates big opportunities for Portigal's businesses. The climate- and green challenge creates a new industrial revolution, says Portugal's economy minister, Manuel Pinho, to BBC. Portugal plans to derive 60% of its electricity from renewables by 2020.

Investments into wind farms are welcomed by most local communities because for setting up a wind turbine on community land one has to pay a rental to the nearest commune, ca. 6800 EUR per turbine per year.

At the same time developers and investors of green energy will get an attractive fixed price for each kilowatt-hour of electricity, guaranteed by the government for 15 years.

The wind turbines in Alto Minho are designed by the German Enercon, but 90% of every turbine will be produced in Portugal. The government plans have already created 2000 jobs in manufacturing for wind farms in the area, and another 6000 jobs will be created in supplying and servicing the industry. But the government's plan related to climate change is costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of euros in Portigal, so it has become part of the national industrial policy. The new factories have already exported turbine equipment for 300 million EUR.

Portugal's biggest solar venture with 52 000 solar panels is at Serpa, and the world's biggest solar power station is now being built at Moura.

Portugal has the first commercial wave farm in the world.