Electricity production license process

DL 76/2019

Developers whose projects is a Small Feed Grid-in Unit (UPP) or a Self-Consumption Unit (UPAC) with 1MW or less of installed capacity are entitled to “fast-track” in the process for obtaining a production licence. UPPs and UPACs with up to 1 MW of installed capacity do not need a production licence to begin their operations. Developers only need to register their units on the SERUP Portal. After successfully registering the unit, developers will be granted a certificate of exploitation authorising their activities. UPACs with installed capacity lower than 1 MW may also only send a mere notification to DGEG, not being necessary to be registered on the system (art. 3 DL 162/2019).
Medium to large-sized projects have to obtain a production licence and can do so by obtaining, first, a grid capacity reserve title. This title has been introduced by DL 76/2019 as a way to ensure that producers and the government would not invest their efforts in projects for which there is no capacity available. After obtaining the title, the process moves on with DGEG analysing the documents submitted by developers, asking, when necessary, for external entities to issue their opinion on the matter as well (e.g., when a possible risk to the environment is identified) (art. 9, 10 and 10-A DL 76/2019).

• Directorate-General of Energy and Geology (DGEG)
• Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE)
• Distribution System Operators