How did Madeira become the EU’s poster child for renewable energy?

This natural paradise in the Atlantic Ocean expects to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources in the coming years.

33% of electricity used on the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira in the first half of 2022 came from renewable energy sources thanks to a project co-funded by the EU.

The autonomous region lies some 660 kilometres off the west coast of Africa and benefits from a subtropical climate. However, there is a notable contrast between the humid north which receives more than 2,000 millimetres of rainfall a year compared to the drier, warmer south which receives just 500 millilitres.

Comprised of four islands, its lush and dramatic landscape was created by a series of volcanic eruptions almost one million years ago. Its green forests, mountains, cliffs and beaches attract thousands of hiking enthusiasts and surfers every year.

The archipelago is one of Europe’s outermost regions, which means its energy systems are isolated. The main island of Madeira has an area of just 741 square kilometres and its rugged terrain poses additional challenges when it comes to energy supply.

However, the contrasting climate between the north and south serves as an advantage thanks to its unique ancient water transportation system.

What are Levadas?

Kilometres of stone pipes called levadas, dating back to the fifteenth century, help to transport rainwater from the north to the south for human consumption, agricultural use and electricity production.

These levadas carry water to the Socorridos hydroelectric power station providing the entire island with power and electricity all year round.

As the island’s largest and most important hydraulic system for the production of water for public supply, irrigation and hydro energy, the EU’s co-funded multi-million euro project represents an important step forward when it comes to taking advantage of renewable energy sources.

“The idea was to collect water from the north coast and transport it to the south coast, where the people are. With the pumping station, we now have more water resources, because we accumulate the water above, at the top of the mountain, and it gathers here at a lower level so that after, we can pump and lose as little water as possible” Antonio Manuel Pontes Leça, the Energy Production Director at the Madeira Electricity Company (EEM), told Euronews.

Madeira boasts 2,000 km of levadas which channel water into the depths of the mountains.

“We only had a little water storage capacity. We built a 5.4-kilometre tunnel to bring all this water and store it, upstream from our hydroelectric power station, which already existed before this project” said Beatriz Rodrigues Jardim, the Quality, Environmental and Safety Director at the EEM.

“We also had to dig tunnels in the mountain, which was a major construction challenge” she added.

Learn more: EuroNews