The CULTURAS ENERGETICAS project seeks to analyse the life-cycle of the system agriculture / fuel production (renewable energy) / distribution and final consumption of energy, based on the use of crops which are appropriate from the ecological point of view to the various ecological and climatic realities of the Atlantic Area, having as main objectives rural development and the production of renewable energy, as well as the growth of sustainable development in economic activities. The principal objective of the project is to contribute to the replacement of fossil energy by renewable sources of energy of an endogenous character in the Atlantic Area. Achievements: ds techniques for cultivation and transformation: ✔ Calculation of the yield (ton per ha) depending on the different genomes, types of soil (arable or marginal), climate conditions and ecosystems. Identification of varieties with strong potential in the different regions in the partnership ✔ Calculation of the profitability: production costs (€ per ha per year) for Miscanthus and Willows for the full exploitation cycles: taking into account costs for exploitation (sowing, planting), des entrants, transport, storage... ✔ Carbon assessment of the different species (photosynthesis-transformation) ✔ Energy and economic assessment: Improvement to the energy transformation procedures for the various species (studies of the gasification of the biomass combustion, improvements to the procedures for extracting bio diesel), study of the different ways of recovering residues (chemical study, market survey and study) ✔ Plants studied and cultivated: Cynara cardunculus (200 ha cultivated, including the world's biggest field with 75.6 ha), Arundo donax, Sorghum bicolor, Miscanthus, Willow, Eucalyptus nitens, Reed Canary grass ✔ Analysis of the viability of exploiting these plants on an industrial scale: ✔ Production of a report for the economic viability study ✔ Pilot project: Constitution of a partnership in the value chain (Cyrana cardunculus in Portugal: supply agreements, price lowering, etc.) and revision of the system of public aid to farmers. Dissemination of the project results: ✔ Raising awareness in institutions (regulatory innovation), Raising awareness with farmers (collaborations when developing the industries) ✔ 2 seminars organised by the project: 800 participants (the communications are available on the website); presentation at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show; participations in other seminars and conferences ✔ Website: http://www.isa.utl.pt/def/interreg/ (124,845 visits); ✔ 3 scientific articles, 3600 brochures, 3000 leaflets, 1 radio programme.