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<\/p>\nTenth place may not sound extraordinary at first, but think about it: out of 118 countries, we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Germany, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. For once, we\u2019re not looking up at the leaders from a distance. We\u2019re part of the club.<\/p>\n
And I can\u2019t help but remember how often we Portuguese talk ourselves down, convinced that nothing ever works here. Well, here is something that works. Years ago, when the government and companies decided to push wind power, many dismissed it as a dream, maybe even a luxury. Today, that \u201cdream\u201d is the backbone of our energy system. Add solar, hydrogen projects, ambitious offshore wind plans, and investments in the grid, and suddenly we look like one of the most forward-thinking players in Europe.<\/p>\n
The report even puts numbers to it: by 2030, we aim for 93 percent of our electricity to come from renewables. Honestly, if you had told me that a decade ago, I would have laughed. Now it feels within reach. And it\u2019s not just about being green. Every turbine and solar panel makes us less dependent on imported fossil fuels, less vulnerable to crises that spike energy prices, and less exposed to the whims of geopolitics. For families and businesses, that means more stability. For the country, it means more independence.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also the pride of seeing Portugal on the map as a place that attracts investment in clean technology. Multinationals see us as a reliable base, and our engineers and researchers are proving they can compete with the best. That, to me, may be the most important part: it shows that our talent, when given the right conditions, can shine on the world stage.<\/p>\n
Of course, there\u2019s no room for complacency. If we want to keep this ranking, we\u2019ll need to solve the hard problems: storage, grid flexibility, and making sure the transition remains affordable. It\u2019s not glamorous, but it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n
Still, I take this recognition as a reminder of something simple: Portugal is capable. We like to believe we\u2019re too small to matter, but here we are, shaping the future of energy alongside the giants. For once, instead of saying \u201cl\u00e1 fora \u00e9 que \u00e9\u201d, we can proudly say: \u201caqui tamb\u00e9m \u00e9\u201d. And that, for me, is worth celebrating.<\/p>\n
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