Pulse

31 August 2026

Good morning. Today the land and the water do most of the talking: saltier rivers, dairy farmers doing their sums, and a boardwalk quietly holding a dune in place.

Water, land and what they are telling us

New boardwalk links two Castro Marim beaches, shields dunes

A new boardwalk section connecting Praia Verde Lago, in Altura, to Praia Verde, in Castro Marim, opened to the public on 21 August. It extends an existing walkway from the Ribeira do Álamo, aiming to protect the dune system by reducing foot traffic and easing beach access. The structure includes a raised section for emergency vehicles and will get lighting. It was built under a public-private partnership tied to a tender run by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) with Castro Marim's council, whose developer will also build a new beach support facility with toilets at Praia Verde Lago.

Algarve Ecosystems & Biodiversity Read more at Jornal do Algarve ↗

The farming squeeze

Azores approve €3 million support package for farmers

The regional government of the Azores has set out the rules for a support scheme for farmers, funded by a pledge from the national government, according to the Açoriano Oriental's front page for Monday, 31 August 2026. The package is worth 3 million euros. No further details on eligibility criteria, timing or distribution of the funds were given in the available text.

Azores Food & Agriculture Read more at Açoriano Oriental ↗

Energy, under review

British owner's insolvency puts Alcoutim solar plant sale on table

Welink Energy Portugal 2 (UK), the British parent of Solara4 which operates Portugal's largest photovoltaic plant in Alcoutim, entered UK insolvency administration on 11 June. The 219MW plant, built for about €175 million and operating since 2021, keeps running, but management passed to Exus and Enertis, who are assessing a possible sale. Administrators cite output below forecasts, negative wholesale electricity prices, fires and equipment failures as causes. Chinese contractor CTIEC is claiming around €143 million in arbitration, while lenders Investec and Kommunalkredit Austria are exposed for roughly €64 million. A planned wind and battery expansion remains under environmental review.

Algarve Energy, Water & Mobility Read more at Postal ↗

Homes and public money

Matosinhos hands over final 105 social housing keys

The Matosinhos City Council delivered the last 105 keys of a total of 512 housing units built under Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). With this final batch handed over, the municipality's stock of public housing now represents 6% of all housing in Matosinhos. The programme aimed to expand access to affordable homes for local residents.

Norte Construction & Housing Read more at The Portugal News ↗

EU funds allocate €18 million for Madeira housing

A regional programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) will distribute €18 million for housing projects in the municipalities of Funchal, Câmara de Lobos and Santa Cruz, as well as for the Madeira Housing Institute (IHM). The announcement is the lead story in today's edition of Jornal da Madeira, which also covers other local items, including the planned conversion of a former butter factory in Fajã da Ovelha into housing, and an update on the Trégua project linking university students and prison inmates.

Madeira Construction & Housing Read more at JM Madeira ↗

Getting around, close to home

Oleiros joins national network of walkable cities

The Municipality of Oleiros, in the Castelo Branco district, has joined the Rede de Cidades e Vilas com Mobilidade Pedonal (Network of Walking Cities and Towns). Membership gives the municipality access to a set of benefits geared towards promoting sustainable mobility. The move forms part of local efforts to encourage walking as a means of transport within the town.

Centro Energy, Water & Mobility Read more at The Portugal News ↗

Lousã council blames ERSUC for overflowing recycling bins

The Lousã Municipal Council has responded to reports of overflowing recycling containers across several points in the municipality. It says the selective collection of paper and cardboard, glass and packaging is the responsibility of ERSUC, the regional waste management company. The council states it has repeatedly contacted ERSUC, both in person and in writing, asking it to resolve the accumulation problems, though no timeline for a fix is given.

Centro Products, Consumption & Circular Read more at Notícias de Coimbra ↗

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