In Portugal, there are currently 15 municipal and regional energy and environment agencies, the first of which were created in the 1990s on the initiative of the European Commission and the regional governments or municipal councils of the respective territory of intervention, with the support of the SAVE programme or, subsequently, for the most part, through the Intelligent Energy-Europe programme.
In general, they are private non-profit associations that aim to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy at the local level, particularly among municipal managers and technicians, as well as economic agents and citizens, thus contributing to the energy transition, the reduction and decarbonisation of consumption and the sustainable development of their respective territories. In addition to local authorities, the main members of local agencies are energy service or product providers, academic and scientific institutions, companies from various sectors, and consumer protection associations.
ADENE is associated with nine regional and municipal energy agencies: AdEPorto – Porto Energy Agency (date of accession: 2007), AMESEIXAL – Seixal Municipal Energy Agency (2002), AREA Alto Minho – Alto Minho Regional Energy and Environment Agency (2009), ARECBA – Central and Lower Alentejo Regional Energy Agency (1998), ENERAREA – Regional Energy and Environment Agency of the Interior (2001), ENERDURA – Alta Estremadura Regional Energy Agency (2000), ENERGAIA – Southern Energy Agency of the Porto Metropolitan Area (2012), Lisboa E-Nova – Municipal Energy and Environment Agency (1998) and S.ENERGIA – Regional Energy Agency for the municipalities of Barreiro, Moita, Montijo and Alcochete (2007).
In January 2010, the RNAE – Association of Energy and Environment Agencies (National Network), a cooperation network that brings together all municipal and regional energy and environment agencies to share information and experiences, as well as to foster partnerships between agencies. RNAE is a private non-profit association whose main objective is to promote the participation of member agencies in projects and initiatives, as well as coordination with entities linked to the areas of energy and environmental policy. Among other activities, RNAE organises the annual Energy and Territory Meeting, in collaboration with E-REDES, and the National Meeting of Energy and Environment Agencies (ENAEA).
Main Activities
ADENE participates in the governing bodies of all the agencies with which it is associated, namely on the Boards of Directors of ENERGAIA and S.ENERGIA and on the General Assembly Committees of AMESEIXAL, AREA Alto Minho, ENERAREA and Lisboa E-Nova.
On 28 October 2021, ADENE and RNAE signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting energy and water efficiency and the circular economy, as well as fostering a decentralised and decarbonised energy system and a sustainable transport system, contributing to a fair, democratic and inclusive economic and social recovery.
Initiatives and activities of common interest are promoted and carried out with any of the local Portuguese energy agencies and with RNAE.
In 2025, collaboration will be highlighted in the creation and operation of the Rede Espaço Energia (Energy Space Network) counters, coordinated by ADENE, and in the organisation of training sessions within the scope of National Coordination of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, provided by ADENE, as well as ADENE’s participation in the 4th edition of the Energy and Territory Meeting (Aveiro, 5 November) and local agencies in the 2nd National Meeting of the Covenant of Mayors (Lisbon, 25 November), in the training activities of the Energy and Behaviour Forum and in twinning activities between cities in the meetMED II project.
In 2026, collaboration with RNAE and local agencies will involve promoting and monitoring actions to promote energy efficiency and sustainable energy production in municipalities and intermunicipal communities within the territories of local agencies, particularly within the framework of the National Coordination of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. ADENE will support the organisation of and participate in ENAEA 2026 – National Meeting of Energy and Environment Agencies 2026 (Porto, 28 January).