Energaia – Energy Agency for the South of the Oporto Metropolitan Area

Role(s)

Mentee

Address

Avenida Manuel Violas nº 476, Sala 23 4410-137 São Félix da Marinha - Portugal

Country

Portugal

Contacts

Email : energaia@energaia.pt Website : http://www.energaia.pt/en/

Topic

Data display, dissemination and validation by final user

Observatories :

Energaia – Energy Agency for the South of the Oporto Metropolitan Area is the competence and knowledge centre for Sustainable Energy and Energy Transition, responsible for the conception, implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans, in its intervention territory. It extends these competences in a transversal and integrated way to areas of knowledge related to its areas of core competence.

In order to achieve an energy policy at an european level, the SAVE II program of the European Commission emerged at the end of the 1990s, which allowed the creation of the Energaia – Municipal Energy Agency of Gaia. This process was led by the Municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia, which had become aware of the need to promote greater sustainability and territorial competitiveness, aiming at the quality of life of its citizens.

After a little over 10 years of existence, and with the support of the ON.2 Program – O Novo Norte, the Agency acquired a metropolitan character, thus extending its area of intervention to the Municipalities of Espinho, Oliveira de Azeméis, Santa Maria da Feira, São João da Madeira and Vale de Cambra, currently corresponding to an area of 721 km2 and approximately 581.602 inhabitants.

Early on, Energaia realised that the intervention in the area of energy would only hold together when integrated in a broader context, such as Sustainability, which sustained the implementation of actions in related areas, being safe to affirm that the history of the Agency is stuffed of emblematic and innovative projects in the areas of environment, urban development, energy, and information and communication technologies. Throughout its existence, Energaia has been providing consulting and advisory services to its associated municipalities, developing projects and studies, promoting training and disseminating best practices.

Through a highly qualified technical staff, and with more than 20 years of uninterrupted activity, Energaia is today one of the oldest energy agencies in Portugal and Europe, and recognized as an example to follow.