Overview
EPAL (Lisbon Water Management Group) is a public institution offering a course on renewable energies, more focused on hydric sources, but that also touches upon PV, solar thermal, wind and biogas.
Summary of policies
In Portugal all the island territories follow the same national law, applicable to the electrical facilities in all country on matters related with the activities of generation, energy storage, auto-consumption, transmission, distribution, trading of electricity, as well as organisation of markets, issue of guarantees of origin, unless when there is specific regional legislation on some specific matters. Decree-Law 15/2022 of 14 January is the law of the national electric system (SEN – Sistema Elétrico Nacional).
The Relevant European Legislative Framework that was transposed into the Portuguese legislation correspond to:
- Internal Electricity Market Directive: DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/944
- Renewable Energy Directive: DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/2001
The national grid code, where the requirements for generation are specified, is described in Ordinance n.º 73/2020 from 16th March. This legal document makes the transposition and adaption of the EU Regulation 2016/631 of 14 April.
Legislative updates as of 2023 include:
- Network Access and Interconnections (RARI): implemented under Regulation 818/2023, this code defines rules on network access, capacity management, and interconnection planning. It aims to increase transparency in grid operations and efficient capacity allocation across high, medium, and low-voltage networks.
- Self-Consumption and Renewable Energy Communities: expanded guidelines in Decree-Law 15/2022 of 14 January enable broader self-consumption rights, streamlined licensing, and the option to form energy communities, allowing multiple users to share renewable energy generation.
- Municipal Contributions: for facilities with over 50 MVA, operators must provide free public access to energy facilities or charging stations, or compensate municipalities proportionately.
These measures support Portugal’s commitment to EU energy standards, enabling renewable energy expansion and more efficient grid integration.
Competent authorities
- EPAL
- AdP Energias
- National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG)
