HELLO, I’M PORTUGUESE AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY COUNTRY: PORTUGAL.PORTUGAL IS THE MOST OVER THE WEST COUNTRY IN EUROPE AND WITH ITS ISLANDS,

ITS COAST IS 1853 KM LONG.

REGARDING ELECTRIC POWER, ITS CONSUMPTION IN PORTUGAL HAS BEEN INCREASING.

WITH THIS IN MIND, WHAT DOES PORTUGAL DO TO SATISFY ITS INHABITANTS’ POWER NEEDS?

FOR A LONG TIME, PORTUGAL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE VERY DEPENDANT ON IMPORTED FOSSIL FUELS. HOWEVER, THIS IS SLOWLY

CHANGING.WHY?

1

WE CAN PRODUCE ELETRIC POWER FROM A LOT OF RENEWABLE

SOURCES SUCH AS WIND, SOLAR RADIATION AND WATER..

PORTUGAL IS ONE OF THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WITH MOST POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE POWER FROM RENEWABLE

SOURCES.

BETWEEN 2004 AND 2009, PORTUGAL WAS IN THE TOP 5 OF THE COUNTRIES WHICH

INVESTED THE MOST IN THIS KIND OF ENERGY.

WIND

SOLAR RADIATION

WATER

2

HAVING IN MIND THIS LAST RESOURCE (WATER), MY COUNTRY HAS A VAST RIVER SYSTEM AND A VERY LONG COAST. IN THE RIVERS,

THE MOST USED STRUCTURES TO PRODUCE POWER ARE THE DAMS AND PORTUGAL HAS NOW OVER 71 OF THEM MOST OF WHICH ARE

LOCATED IN THE NORTH OF CONTINENTAL PORTUGAL..

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DAMS IN PORTUGAL IS ALTO LINDOSO DAM WHICH PRODUCES ABOUT

948 GWH EVERY YEAR. IT IS ONE OF THE TALLEST DAMS IN MY COUNTRY WITH A TOTAL HEIGHT OF 110M

(ABOUT 37 FLOORS!).

3

AS I SAID EARLIER, THE PORTUGUESE COAST HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE ELETRIC POWER,

MOSTLY BECAUSE OF ITS POWERFUL WAVES.

AFTER ALL, THE TALLEST WAVE TO BE EVER SURFED IN THE

WORLD WAS SURFED IN NAZARÉ, PORTUGAL (ABOUT 34M TALL!).

ONE OF THE FIRST TRIES TO EXPLORE THIS RESOURCE HAPPENED IN 2008 WITH THE

IMPLANTATION OF “SEA SNAKES” IN THE NORTH OF CONTINENTAL PORTUGAL. IT IS AN ONGOING

PROJECT.

AND NOW IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. I HOPE I’VE HELPED YOU TO MEET MY

COUNTRY. SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

4

Hydric EnergyThis alternative

energy is the result of the movement of large masses of water like we see in rivers. The movement and fall of those waters has kinetic energy which can be converted into power.

It gets turned into power when it goes through a dam.

Barragem de Castelo de Bode, Santarém

How does a Dam work?

Environmental ImpactsOf Hydroelectric Plants

In Portugal

Hydroelectric plants and dams cause a variety of problems, impacts in the territories and in adjacent populations, more precisely:

The destruction of natural vegetation / habitats The reduction of aquatic biodiversity  Impacts on water quality Over time, trash and debris will be deposited in the river’s bed.

An example is the Alqueva dam on the Guadiana river. With the construction of the dam, the old village of Luz got submerged.

How to light on a led using a plastic bottle with water

and a dynamo

An alternative environmentally friendlyAnd zero carbon emitting

Home Recycle Materials:

Plastic bottle Pressure valve from a byclicle Small tap Water wheel (turbine wheel) Bottle metal support Dynamo Plastic shell to protect the dynamo

mechanism LED Plastic box

Procedure:

After filled with water, the plastic bottle is fixed in to a metal support to prevent from slipping. To give water the necessary pressure, we push a air pump and open the small tap.The water falls in to the turbine wheel rotating it.The turbine wheel is connected to a dynamo and produce energy. The turbine wheel change the energy of falling water into mechanical power.The dynamo turn this mechanical power into electricity.In this experience we produced the necessary electricity to light on the LED.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.