The Azores Regional Government, through the Sustainable Energy Action Plan for the Azorean Islands, assumed that by the year 2018, 60% of electricity would be generated from renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, by increasing renewable energy sources share in the electricity mix, peak energy that exceeds grid capacity cannot be used unless when considering energy storage systems. Therefore, this article aims at determining, among batteries and Pumped Hydro Systems, the most cost-effective energy storage system to deploy in Terceira Island, along with geothermal, wind, thermal and bio waste energy, while considering demand and supply constraints. It is concluded that a pumped hydro system sited in Serra do Morião-Nasce Água is the best option for storage of the excess generated energy when compared with batteries. However, further studies should analyze environmental constraints. It is demonstrated that by increasing the storage power capacity, a pumped hydro system improves its cost efficiency when compared with batteries. It is also demonstrated that, to ensure quality, economic feasibility, reliability and a reduction of external costs, it is preferable to replace fuel-oil by wind to generate electricity up to a conceivable technical limit, while building a pumped hydro system, or dumping the excess peak energy generated.

This article presents a new multi-criteria decision aid methodology, dynamic-PROMETHEE, here used to design electric vehicle charging networks. In applying this methodology to a Portuguese city, results suggest that it is effective in designing electric vehicle charging networks, generating time and policy based scenarios, considering offer and demand and the city’s urban structure. Dynamic-PROMETHE adds to the already known PROMETHEE’s characteristics other useful features, such as decision memory over time, versatility and adaptability. The case study, used here to present the dynamic-PROMETHEE, served as inspiration and base to create this new methodology. It can be used to model different problems and scenarios that may present similar requirement characteristics.

Wind power reduces our exposure to fuel price volatility and abrupt supply disruptions; it has no CO₂ emissions and increases energy security through the diversification of the energy portfolio. If well sited and dimensioned, wind farms may contribute to decreased electricity generation costs. This article presents a combined GISs (Geographical Information Systems) and CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis) approach, in determining the most feasible sites that would be suitable for the generation of wind energy in Terceira Island, which is aimed towards efficient policy designs. Data corrected with Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program, from local effects of the territory, are used to determine potential energy. Furthermore, a CBA is performed, without taking into consideration subsidies and economic indicators are displayed in maps using GIS. Results indicated that Terceira Island has large available areas capable of generating wind energy at low prices. On Terceira Island, while considering a 1500 kW wind farm under the best siting conditions, it is estimated to achieve a Net Present Value of nearly 3 330 000.00 €, an Internal Rate of Return of nearly 26%, and a Levelized Cost of Energy of nearly 0.04 €/KW h, without incentives. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that reductions in the energy sold may drastically impair the feasibility of a wind energy generation project, and that increases in the lifetime of a project from 15 to 25 years may improve its feasibility. The minimum wind speed required to grant feasibility of investments on Terceira Island, for 1500 kW installed power, is 6 m/s, ceteris paribus. This analysis pointed out that Serra do Cume and Serra da Ribeirinha are the most suited for wind energy projects on Terceira Island.

This work aims at analysing how compensatory direct payments regimes to farmers influence land-use patterns and changes on agricultural landscape. For this purpose a case-study examines land-use changes in Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) for the period of 2008–2013. It is specifically focused on the land-use changes associated to maize for silage annually declared on the detailed land parcels by farmers which apply for direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A total increase of 28 per cent is reported on arable crops area (mostly maize silage) for the period. This process should be related not only to the agricultural coupled support policy for arable crops but also to the relative prices of farm products and raw materials for animal feed. The access facilities to the land parcels appear to be another major farm-related factor at local context. A logistic regression analysis is performed at the land parcel level and the occurrence of the agricultural land-use ‘maize for silage’ is explained by a set of explanatory variables. The independent variables comprise biophysical factors and socio-economic factors. Results indicate biophysical factors (average annual temperature, annual accumulated precipitation, slope and soil agricultural use capability), accessibility, farm typology, previous land-use, arable crops aid, milk price and bovine meat price as key factors for maize silage land-use occupancy on Terceira Island. These conclusions seem valuable for decision-making on the implementation of coupled support schemes under agricultural policies and their impacts on spatial arrangements in land-use dynamics and landscape change.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the possibility of implementation of alternative renewable energy micro-generation installations in dairy farm milk collection posts, from the technical, economical and environmental perspectives. This work was performed through a dairy farm milk collection post energy audit, to perform energy profile characterization and demand requirements. Following that, a study of the weather conditions was done and the obtained data (through CLIMAAT and MacSIMAR projects) [11] was introduced in a renewable energy solutions calculator (HOMER). Moreover, a system design from the available portfolio of micro-generation devices was defined and a cost benefit analysis of the selected alternatives was done. In the end a comparison of the current implemented solution with alternative designs was performed. Results show that from the analyzed solutions for this case, the set of PV (20Kw) and Wind (3KW) with no batteries is the best one, since it presents the least cost of energy, the smallest initial capital and the highest Net Present Cost. The sensitivity analysis derive that wind micro-turbines should be installed except if the solar radiation is on its maximum value and that in no case the use of batteries is an advantage for the system operation. For systems requiring a certain degree of energy (in this case with an average of 350 kW/day), the implementation of micro generation systems, like the ones evaluated, will never be economically viable in terms of Total Economic Value, even with generous feed-in tariff schemes. It is preferable that the grid operator makes investments in renewable energy production. To improve the system energy performance, the options should be focused on energy efficiency measures.

Little is known about citizens’ judgment of nature conservation actions financed by public funds. The present work contributes to this topic with empirical evidence coming from a Choice Modeling (CM) study designed in an innovative mode. Using the participatory budget format, a CM exercise elicited respondents’ choice between the allocation of public funds for nature conservation actions versus other actions (e.g. social or economic interventions). The case study comprises an EU-LIFE project managed by a Portuguese municipality. Results highlight the importance of awareness of and accessibility to environmental goods, as those that are more willing to pay use the area for leisure activities and have a greater knowledge about it. In addition, we suggest that CM can be used as a tool to uncover citizens’ preferences regarding public budget allocation which can contribute to a democratization of decision making at this level.