Porto invests €4.5m to cut wastewater plants' energy dependence

Águas e Energia do Porto is investing €4.5 million to modernise the Sobreiras and Freixo wastewater treatment plants, aiming to cut energy dependence and boost renewable use ahead of the EU's future Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Measures started in 2022 include upgraded equipment, smarter controls, solar power expansion and greater use of biogas. A photovoltaic unit at Sobreiras is already reducing grid electricity purchases, while Freixo aims for solar to cover 20% of consumption by 2026 and biogas to help reach 60% energy self-sufficiency next year. Specific energy consumption had already fallen 25.6% by the end of 2025 compared with 2022.