The Algarve line goes fully electric
From this Sunday the Algarve railway runs only on electric trains, a 45 million euro upgrade that boosts regional service by around 18% and removes transfers between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António.
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Seven days of the Pulse, curated into one weekly read.
Pulse
19 July 2026
Good morning! Today's Pulse rolls along the rails of a greener Algarve, catches up with renewables leading the grid, and stops by community life across the country.
Quieter, lower-emission regional travel
The redeployed diesel trains answer a long-standing need for more rolling stock on the Oeste and Alentejo lines, part of a wider move toward quieter, lower-emission regional travel.
Renewables power over 86% of our electricity
INE data show renewables reached 86.2% of electricity produced in 2024, driven above all by solar growth, while natural gas consumption fell sharply.
A steady charging tariff for EV drivers
EDP and Bolt launched a fixed 0.45 euro per kWh tariff for electric vehicle drivers until the end of 2026, while ultra-fast charging points on motorways grew to 129.
Advanced biofuels from waste
With Portugal having used up its yearly natural resources by May, an industry group highlights advanced biofuels made from used cooking oils as a way to cut emissions and reuse waste.
Water reserves rise in Almada
Almada's average water reserves climbed to 40%, raising the possibility of shorter supply cuts, though the council keeps conservation measures and new boreholes in place.
Investing in the Mira river's waters
The Agua Que Une strategy plans 129 million euros by 2030 for agricultural water use of the Mira river around Odemira, announced at a horticulture colloquium.
Reclaiming your 10 cents with Volta
Portugal's Volta deposit-return system charges 10 cents per eligible drink container, refundable at collection points, and its app helps check eligibility and manage refunds.
Reviving ordered grazing in Madeira's hills
The JPP wants to reopen debate on regulated grazing in Madeira's highlands, proposing a shepherd-led transhumance model and gathering producers to prepare a 2027 proposal.
A summer party at Braga's teaching farm
The Quinta Pedagogica in Braga held its eighth Summer Festival, drawing hundreds for an afternoon of theatre, yoga, science activities and family fun.
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A short read every morning — what's happening across sustainable Portugal.
Recent
- Good morning. Today the wild side of Portugal takes the lead — a heavy bird, a night-flying moth and a lithium mine that keeps dividing a valley — before we settle into markets, mid-August fairs and one wooden lunchbox that goes straight into the oven.
- Bom dia. Today's Pulse leans towards land and water: fire prevention on the commons, a contested farm in the Alentejo, solar plans weighed against habitats, and a good handful of gentler things to do before the summer slips away.
- Good morning. Today the Gerês keeps the country talking, solar quietly takes the lead in our electricity mix, and there is honey, wheat and a sea hare along the way.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse looks at wolves and monk seals, cork festivals and shared bicycles, plus a solar eclipse that will briefly dim the country's panels.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse looks at nature restoration promises waiting to be kept, two islands testing what their technology and their vines can do, and new homes opening their doors from the Azores to Celorico de Basto.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse leans towards water and waste: a record-dry July, urgent repairs beneath Leiria, and a region rethinking where its rubbish goes.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse is shaped by water — a dry July, planned cuts and new investment — alongside grape growers making their voices heard, and small community projects quietly showing what circular living can look like.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse takes in wildfire prevention and water use, a giant frog made of rubbish in Ponte de Lima, salt marshes turned into laboratories, and quiet steps towards cleaner transport across the country.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse leans towards water, wildfire and wild things: protection plans for six Azorean islands, rabbits returning to the Côa, and a steady drumbeat of energy and water investment across the country.
- Bom dia. Today's Pulse runs from estuary protection and reservoir levels to a deposit-return deadline that lands next week, with a few small delights along the way.