Policy in Portugal

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Updated: 06.02.2019

Author: Moïra Jimeno

Summary of policies

  • Training programs for installers. Many institutions offer professional training for installers of solar thermal installations. Additionally, within the scope of the National Qualification System, there is the professional course of technician for renewable energy which focus on the installation of solar thermal and photovoltaic installations as well as wind energy and bioenergy plants.
  • Certification of RES installations. Where solar thermal installations are used, the performance and durability of the installation and its components must be certified by an accredited entity.
  • Exemplary role of Public Authorities. New buildings owned or used by public authorities shall be "nearly zero-energy buildings" when certified after 31 December 2018, which means that the building shall have a high energy performance and energy needs are largely provided by renewable sources, mainly produced on site or nearby.
  • RD&D policies. There are incentives for research and projects on innovation and technological development in the field of renewable energy.
  • RES-H building obligations. There is the obligation to use solar thermal collectors for heating water in new buildings and buildings undergoing major interventions. Other forms of RES can be used as an alternative to solar thermal collectors, as well as for other purposes if they are more efficient or convenient. 

Technologies

  • Training programs for installers. Mainly solar thermal. However, the professional course of technician of renewable energy covers solar thermal or photovoltaic, wind and bioenergy.
  • Certification of RES installations. Mainly solar thermal.
  • Exemplary role of Public Authorities. Solar, biomass and wind.
  • RD&D policies. The campaign to disseminate information on RES covers solar, photovoltaic, wind, biomass, geothermal, and wave.
  • RES-H building obligations. Mainly solar thermal. However, other forms of RES can be used as an alternative (photovoltaic, wind, biomass, geothermal, wave). 

Statutory provisions

  • DL 118/2013 (Decreto-Lei n.º 118/2013 de 20 de Agosto – Decree-Law No. 118/2013 of 20 August), which transposes Directive 2010/31/EU into a national law.
  • Ordinance 32276-A/2008 (Despacho n.º 32276-A/2008 de 17 de Dezembro - Ordinance No. 32276-A/2008 of 17 December) on the Fund to Support Innovation (FAI).
  • Ordinance 394/2004 (Portaria n.º 394/2004 de 19 de Abril - Ordinance No. 394/2004 of 19 April) on the rules for the implementation of the MAPE (Measure to Support the Harnessing of Energy Potential and Rationalisation of Consumption).
  • Ordinance 944/2005 (Portaria n.º 944/2005 de 28 de Setembro - Ordinance No. 944/2005 of 28 September) on the professional course of technician of renewable energy.
  • Ordinance 13415/2010 (Despacho n.º 13415/2010 de 19 de Agosto - Ordinance No. 13415/2010 of 19 August) on energy efficiency programmes under the Fund to Support Innovation (FAI).
  • Ordinance 5727/2013 (Despacho n.º 5727/2013 de 2 de maio - Ordinance No. 5727/2013 of 2 May), which suspends  the evaluation of renewable projects to be applied for the Fund to Support Innovation (FAI).
  • Ordinance 3156/2016 (Despacho n.º 3156/2016 de 1 de marco - Ordinance No. 3156/2016 of 1 March) on the replacement of the programme that calculates the amount of energy produced by solar thermal systems and solar
  • photovoltaic panels, under the Energy Certification System for Buildings (SCE), as amended by Ordinance No. 10346/2018.
  • DL 78/2016 (Decreto-Lei n.º 78/2006), which approves the Energy Certification and Indoor Air Quality National System.

Portugal

Further information

  • Ministério da Economia, da Inovação e do Desenvolvimento. Direcção Geral de Energia e Geologia (DGEG) – Directorate General for Energy and Geology at the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development
  • +351 217 922 782
  • DGEG website
  • Racionalizacao.Energia(at)dgge.pt
  • Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos (ERSE) – Energy Services Regulatory Authority
  • +351 213 033 200
  • ERSE website
  • erse(at)erse.pt
  • Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. (REN) – Concession holder of the National Electricity Transmission Grid (RNT)
  • + 351 210 013 500
  • REN website
  • EDP Distribuição – Main Distribution System Operator
  • +351 808 100 100
  • EDP website