On June 3, the 2nd Edition of FC Talks – “The Energy Future in Portugal” took place at the Abreu Faro Amphitheatre. The discussion, organized by Fórum Mecânica, featured Pedro Carvalho, professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Coordinator of the Energy Transition thematic line at INESC-ID; Dr. Jean Barroca, Secretary of State for Energy; Horácio Fernandes, professor at the Department of Physics and researcher at the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion; Paulo Ferrão, professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and President of IN+; and André dos Santos, an alumnus of Electrical and Computer Engineering, current Director of Technical Project Engineering at REN and Guest Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico.

Throughout the session, various topics were addressed. Beginning with the issue of how to mitigate the instability of energy supply from renewable sources such as solar and wind, and the role of energy imports from neighboring countries, the speakers emphasized the need to invest in energy storage, as well as in secure, sustainable, and accessible energy, highlighting the role of engineering in Portugal in developing industry with awareness of its environmental and economic impact.

The speakers then explored the use of energy from nuclear fission (splitting atomic nuclei), which is currently safer than nuclear fusion (fusing atomic nuclei), as a potential contributor to reducing the ecological footprint in the future. As an example, Pedro Carvalho highlighted the possibility of using this type of energy in nuclear reactors to power ships and aircraft. He also underlined Portugal’s current abundance in renewable energy resources.

Other topics discussed included the environmental impact of industry, including the recycling of materials such as solar panels and wind turbines, and the importance of increasing scientific literacy and public engagement in these topics. The speakers stressed the value of debate, education, and combating misinformation, as well as the adoption of a bidirectional energy market—where consumers can sell energy back to the grid—participation in international projects, and the need for continued investment.

The event also featured active participation from students, who asked questions and shared their perspectives on the issues discussed.