Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič has met with InnoEnergy and its innovators in Portugal while celebrating the country’s progress as a clean energy leader.

InnoEnergy welcomed Šefčovič to the capital, Lisbon, this week, showcasing the clean-energy contribution of some of the Portuguese innovations it has supported.

Šefčovič met with Andreia Fernandes, Portugal Country Manager, InnoEnergy at the Tivoli Hotel Avenida. The commissioner witnessed presentations about the organisation’s work in Portugal and from some of the innovative start-ups that InnoEnergy has supported.

Šefčovič said: “What I appreciate with InnoEnergy is its tailor-made support to help entrepreneurs develop promising and efficient energy solutions while always mindful that they have to conquer markets.”

Fernandes said: “It was an honour to join Commissioner Šefčovič and to showcase some of the fantastic innovations we’ve supported.

“To our innovators in Portugal and the rest of Europe, we hope that this shows how seriously the commission takes clean energy innovation and demonstrates the value of InnoEnergy’s top-table network of policy makers and industry influencers.”

The following day, Šefčovič met with one of InnoEnergy’s Portuguese success stories, ProDrone. The Lisbon-based company uses customised unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), specifically designed for inspecting wind turbines in a safer, more cost-effective way.

Šefčovič added: “InnoEnergy had a decisive role to play by being an enabler of the Energy Union through innovation.”

“Portugal has already led the way in so many areas of clean energy – just look at Principle Power’s world-leading floating offshore wind technology, WindFloat,” says Diego Pavía, CEO of InnoEnergy.

“We helped commercialise that project and are working to help Portuguese innovators lead in so many more. Commissioner Šefčovič’s kind words are a great validation of our work.”