On October 23, the Environmental Economics Knowledge Center (EEKC) at NOVA SBE, in partnership with Greenvolt Group, hosted the event “Economics of Energy: Bridging Research and Policy.” The initiative brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss how scientific evidence can better inform policy decisions in the energy sector.

Opening Session

The event began with remarks from Jean Barroca, Secretary of State for Energy, who emphasized the Government’s commitment to “decide based on scientific evidence and economic feasibility.”

Following him, António Miguel Bento, from the University of Southern California, highlighted that “Portugal is an ideal setting to implement innovative solutions,” noting the country’s leadership in decentralized energy and, in particular, energy communities—a field in which Greenvolt already operates over 70 projects.

Research Presentations

The event featured leading voices from government, academia, and industry, including Jean Barroca (Secretary of State for Energy), Paula Abreu Marques (European Commission), Pedro Verdelho (Chair of ERSE), João Manso Neto (CEO of Greenvolt), and members of the EEKC, coordinated by Professor Antonieta Cunha e Sá.

EEKC researchers presented impactful studies addressing key issues in the energy transition:

• Luísa Nobre analyzed the economic impact of the “Iberian exception” in the electricity market.
• David Augusto Ferreira do Couto Fonseca da Silva explored the feasibility of floating offshore wind energy in Portugal.
• Mariia Murasheva examined the relationship between air pollution and public health, highlighting increased hospital admissions among children.

Final Panel Discussion

The closing panel brought together Paula Abreu Marques (European Commission), Pedro Verdelho (ERSE), Antonieta Cunha e Sá (NOVA SBE), and João Manso Neto (Greenvolt Group).

Key Takeaways

Participants agreed that science and innovation must remain central to political decision-making, reinforcing the need for continuous collaboration between academia, policymakers, regulators, and the private sector.

Discussions underscored Portugal’s potential as a living laboratory for energy innovation and reaffirmed the EEKC’s commitment to producing high-quality, policy-relevant research that bridges science and policy for a more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive energy system.

Acknowledgments

The EEKC sincerely thanks all participants for their contributions to a constructive dialogue and for their shared enthusiasm in turning knowledge into action.

📸 To see photos from the event, visit our Linkedin Post.