I have finally contracted my electricity with them. I didn’t even know much about their story, but it’s a nice example of cooperative success and EU-wide support among cooperatives.

Also, it looks like PT is fully renewable now anyways, no more coal!

I think what needs to be done now is evaluate the impact that each of these technologies have on the landscape.

Some people seem to have problems with the wind turbine noise and vibration, but as the turbines are placed on top of the hills not many people are affected. All turbines are placed by large corporations, as far as I know. This seems to be a little different in Germany if I remember well, anyone knows any details?

Hydro power has a large impact on the landscape, whole villages have been flooded an the people relocated, ancient common lands expropriated. But the remaining villages all have electricity now. There’s irrigation water to grow many crops. Built by the state (nowadays, half-private state-adjacent corporations).

Solar panels can be used for smaller citizen investments like the above mentioned coopernico cooperative. But solar is not necessarily the best technology for everywhere - solar panels are high tech devices for a start, that I cannot produce or repair at home.

Whereas a hydro or wind generator will be based on simpler technology. I have, for example, a stream running through my land that could provide power during 9 month of the year. I’d have to go back into a lot of DIY, engineering, experimenting with no guarantee for success if I wanted to tap into it.

I’d say Portugal in general is on a good way, with a lot of room for improvement. I would want to see more microgeneration, and more citizen initiatives, I’m sure we can work on that!