Madeira Regional Agency for Energy and Environment

The Regional Agency for Energy and Environment of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (AREAM) is a private non-profit association. Recognised as a public utility, the agency’s mission is to promote innovation and cooperation in the energy and environment domains. 

AREAM was established in 1993 by the Regional Government of Madeira, with 51 founding associates, including governmental institutions, entrepreneurial associations and the most active companies in the Region. 

AREAM provides support to the economic agents of the region and acts as a catalyst for innovation in the local energy sector through its partnership with regional and local authorities. 

Activities 

Specifically, AREAM is involved in: 

• Energy auditing; 

• Promotion of technology; 

• Energy efficiency in buildings; 

• Wind farms; 

• Micro-hydroelectric; 

• Integration of renewables in small and isolated networks; 

• Geographical information systems and local energy sources; 

• Management of electricity demand in the hotel sector; 

• Park& Ride System in Funchal; 

• New management systems and equipment in the transport sector; 

• Rational use of energy in hotels and industry; 

• Environmental management in the industrial and hotel sectors. 

Projects  

AREAM works on projects that contribute to the sustainable development of Madeira, in the following areas:  

• Promoting projects with a strategic interest for regional development. 

• Offering technical support to decision-makers on issues and challenges in the fields of energy and the environment. 

• Raising awareness to encourage behavioural changes in the areas of energy and the environment. 

• Providing technical support to economic agents on energy and environmental sustainability. 

Examples of its projects include:  

• MICROCLI-MAC – Technologies and Smart Management for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Macaronesia Region and Third Countries 

• RESMAC -Reducing external energy dependence on the energy system of small and isolated regions as a strategy to adapt to climate change 

• PLAN4COLD – Supporting Southern European municipalities in defining Local Sustainable Heating and Cooling Plans 

• GREEN HYSLAND – Implementing a hydrogen ecosystem on the island of Mallorca, Spain