Renewable energy policy database and support: single

Connection to the grid

Updated: 06.02.2019

Author: Moïra Jimeno

Operators of renewable energy plants are contractually entitled against the grid operator to connection of their plants to the grid.

Entitled party. The persons entitled are the plant operators.

Obligated party. The companies obligated are the grid operators, namely the Transmission System Operator (Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. - REN) and the Distribution System Operator (mainly EDP Distribuição).

Procedure

Process flow	Operators of renewable energy plants are contractually entitled against the grid operator to connection of their plants to the grid. UPPs and UPACs with a capacity between 1.5 kW and 1 MW or less than 1.5 kW but being connected to the grid require a prior registration on SERUP (Electronic Registration System) (art. 4 and 13 DL 153/2014). Then, SERUP issues a receipt (including a registration number as well as the data and time of the registration) to proceed with the payment of a registration fee. The registration fee must be paid within a time frame of 10 days and varies from € 30 up to € 750, depending on the installed capacity. Once the feed is paid, UPPs and UPACs are effectively registered (arts. 6, 7 and 19 Ordinance 14/2015). It must be noted that UPACs that are not connected to the grid do not require a registration, only a notification (art. 4 and 13 DL 153/2014). SERUP registry is managed by the Directorate General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) (art. 7 DL 363/2007 and art. 7 DL 34/2011).
Deadlines	Plants must be fully connected within 24 months after the grid operator's consent to connect them (Licence of Establishment). Operators of renewable energy plants may request an extension of the above-mentioned deadlines. UPPs and UPACs with a capacity between 1.5 kW and 1 MW or less than 1.5 kW but being connected to the grid are connected within 10 days after the grid operator is informed of the conclusion of the purchase contract (art. 34 DL 153/2014).
Obligation to inform	The operators of UPP and UPAC shall provide specific data (e.g. promoter identification, characterization of the unit, total installed capacity, contracted capacity, energy supplier and category of remuneration) to the DGEG during the registration process. After the registration is finished, DGEG notifies the distribution grid operator and the electricity supplier (EDP) on the UPP or UPAC registration (art. 5 and 12 Ordinance 14/2015). DGEG also published on its website the connection requirements for PV and CSP. This regulation established the transitional requirements for the connection of PV and CPV generators to the public grid (Ordinance 3306/2018).

Process flow

Operators of renewable energy plants are contractually entitled against the grid operator to connection of their plants to the grid.

UPPs and UPACs with a capacity between 1.5 kW and 1 MW or less than 1.5 kW but being connected to the grid require a prior registration on SERUP (Electronic Registration System) (art. 4 and 13 DL 153/2014). Then, SERUP issues a receipt (including a registration number as well as the data and time of the registration) to proceed with the payment of a registration fee. The registration fee must be paid within a time frame of 10 days and varies from € 30 up to € 750, depending on the installed capacity. Once the feed is paid, UPPs and UPACs are effectively registered (arts. 6, 7 and 19 Ordinance 14/2015).

It must be noted that UPACs that are not connected to the grid do not require a registration, only a notification (art. 4 and 13 DL 153/2014).

SERUP registry is managed by the Directorate General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) (art. 7 DL 363/2007 and art. 7 DL 34/2011).

Deadlines

Plants must be fully connected within 24 months after the grid operator's consent to connect them (Licence of Establishment). Operators of renewable energy plants may request an extension of the above-mentioned deadlines. UPPs and UPACs with a capacity between 1.5 kW and 1 MW or less than 1.5 kW but being connected to the grid are connected within 10 days after the grid operator is informed of the conclusion of the purchase contract (art. 34 DL 153/2014).

Obligation to inform

The operators of UPP and UPAC shall provide specific data (e.g. promoter identification, characterization of the unit, total installed capacity, contracted capacity, energy supplier and category of remuneration) to the DGEG during the registration process. After the registration is finished, DGEG notifies the distribution grid operator and the electricity supplier (EDP) on the UPP or UPAC registration (art. 5 and 12 Ordinance 14/2015). DGEG also published on its website the connection requirements for PV and CSP. This regulation established the transitional requirements for the connection of PV and CPV generators to the public grid (Ordinance 3306/2018).

Priority to renewable energy

Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)

Distribution of costs

Plant operator	The plant operator whose plant is to be connected to the grid shall install an additional connection to the grid. This additional connection is deemed part of the entire grid; yet, the plant operator shall bear the full costs. If an operator of a renewable energy plant intends to install a connection to the grid and there is no capacity available, the plant operator shall wait for the grid to be upgraded or participate in the costs of the grid reinforcement. The operators of renewable-energy UPPs and UPACs connected to the grid shall bear the costs of connection to and eventual reinforcement of the grid (art. 8 DL 153/2014).

Plant operator

The plant operator whose plant is to be connected to the grid shall install an additional connection to the grid. This additional connection is deemed part of the entire grid; yet, the plant operator shall bear the full costs. If an operator of a renewable energy plant intends to install a connection to the grid and there is no capacity available, the plant operator shall wait for the grid to be upgraded or participate in the costs of the grid reinforcement. The operators of renewable-energy UPPs and UPACs connected to the grid shall bear the costs of connection to and eventual reinforcement of the grid (art. 8 DL 153/2014).

Renewable energy policy database and support

Legal sources on renewable energy

Connection to the grid

Procedure

Priority to renewable energy

Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)

Distribution of costs

Further information

Basic information on legal sources