EU energy communities policy tracker

The Ministry has a legal obligation to conduct an assessment of potential and barriers. This should have been undertaken within two years of entry into force of the legislation (2019), and every three years afterwards. However, the initial assessment has still not been carried out.

There is no specific target for energy communities in Portuguese legislation. 

The Decree states that the essential elements of the enabling framework and its implementation shall be part of the updates of the integrated national energy and climate plans and progress reports drawn up pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, the European Parliament and the Council of 11 December 2018, governance of the Energy and Climate Action Union. Member States are required via the Governance Regulation (2018/1999) to report on their enabling frameworks for RECs by 15 March 2023.

The Portuguese NECP provides comprehensive information on the different enabling measures that will be provided for energy communities over the next years. This includes, inter alia, 1) capacity building of Municipalities, 2) accelerating and simplifying permitting procedures, 3) centralising data on self-consumption and energy communities. 

Energy communities are also considered in the the Long-Term National Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty (ELPPE) (2023–2050) as well as the Building Renovation Strategy. They are not considered in network development strategies, and neither in the Renewable Acceleration Areas. 

REC production facilities are subject to registration or production license, and specific requirements may be defined by order of the member of the Government responsible for energy. The production facilities must be registered before the energy communities, thus creating a barrier. Fees are due for the assessment of applications for production installations for self-consumption with an installed capacity above 30 kW, exempting smaller installations from the fee. Installations with no greater electricity production than 350 W and installed capacity equal to or less than 30 kW are subject to mere prior communication.

The exception to this procedure happens when a new connection to the grid is requested. The licensing process of this case are more complex as it requires the filling of electrotechnical documents and the payment of fees; 

Supply

In order an energy community to be a supplier must complete a registration process (rather than obtain a traditional license) with the Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia (DGEG), demonstrating its technical, financial, and legal capacity to operate in the market. Once registered, it must secure access to the grid by contracting with the distribution operator (such as E-REDES), purchase electricity through wholesale markets or bilateral agreements, and comply with the commercial and consumer protection rules set by the Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos (ERSE).Also the energy community requires a financial guarantee (to the Iberian Electricity Market - MIBEL) to operate in electricity market. This can mean thousands of euros in investment

E-mobility

Any charging point must be registered in MOBIE (portuguese electrical mobility operator, https://www.mobie.pt/) and must be opened to any consumer.

Removal of unjustified regulatory & administrative barriers: RECs are subject to supplier obligations for electricity shared within it, although this is not the case for collective self-consumption. RECs must also still be responsible for balancing, but small or pilot projects may receive balancing exemptions. This responsibility may be fulfilled directly, or through a third party. Furthermore, regulations for energy communities have been framed primarily around PV and energy sharing only, significantly limiting the ability of energy communities to exercise their rights more broadly across the energy sector.

Non-discriminatory treatment as market participant: The Decrees state that RECs can access all appropriate energy markets, both directly and through aggregation, in a non-discriminatory manner. 

The 2022 Decree in particular states that RECs can access all energy markets, including system services, both directly and through aggregation.

The Network Operation Regulation (Reg. 816/2023, “ROR”) provides additional operational guidance for the electricity system. Article 9 confirms that participation in system services from the demand side can occur either individually or through aggregation, subject to validation requirements. Article 48(7) clarifies that all qualified market participants can provide system services, including—but not limited to—renewable energy power plants, surplus electricity from self-consumption, storage facilities, and demand response services, whether individually or aggregated. Articles 51–53 outline detailed prequalification procedures that allow aggregated demand, storage, and generation assets to take part in balancing services. Article 55 defines the rules for settling imbalances.

Energy sharing has been enabled through the combination of Decrees on RECs and CECs, as well as additional regulations on self-consumption, which is the basis for energy sharing among energy communities. Regulation 818/2023 (RARI, Art. 5(b)) confirms network access must follow principles of transparency and non-discrimination.

Energy communities must communicate their sharing key with the DSO. Otherwise, the DSO will adopt a default static sharing key. The DSO must adapt its IT system within six months to monitor consumption within the energy sharing initiative. The DSO must also provide information to the energy community and the affected suppliers

A number of issues have been raised regarding the DSOs’ implementation of their responsibility to connect projects to the grid and to share data with relevant parties. Significant delays, and a lack of transparency or clarity around the process, plus bottlenecks to accessing and transmitting information, have been cited.

Under Order No. 6453/2020—later extended by Order No. 1177/2024—collective self-consumption initiatives and Renewable Energy Community (REC) projects that utilise the Public Electricity Service Network (RESP) are granted a full exemption, for a period of seven years, from certain components of network tariffs known as CIEG (Custos de Interesse Económico Geral). These charges form part of network costs and are intended to cover expenses related to energy policy, sustainability measures, and services of general economic interest.

In addition, energy communities and collective self-consumption (ACC) groups in Portugal may qualify for a range of fiscal benefits, including reduced VAT rates, exemptions from the Special Consumption Tax (IEC), income tax advantages, and potential reductions in municipal property tax (IMI). Further support may come in the form of subsidies or feed-in tariffs for electricity generation, as well as access to favourable financing conditions designed to encourage the development of renewable energy projects.

Portugal actively supports the contribution of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and Citizen Energy Communities (CECs) to addressing energy poverty and improving the inclusion of vulnerable households. This commitment is reflected in Decree-Law 15/2022, the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), and ELPPE, which identify these communities as important mechanisms for enhancing energy efficiency, strengthening local solidarity, and reducing poverty. Their implementation is further reinforced through municipal one-stop shops (Espaços Energia), which provide practical assistance at the local level.

The National Energy Poverty Observatory (ONPE-PT) serves as a “network of experts”, assisting vulnerable households with advice, including on joining energy communities. 

The Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) website (dgeg.gov.pt) serves as a key information hub on energy communities and their role in advancing a sustainable energy system. It offers practical guidance on self-consumption schemes and Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), accessible through the pathway Sectoral Areas → Energy → Electric Energy → Electric Energy Production. The platform also hosts relevant legislation, procedural manuals, application forms, and a dedicated FAQ section.

The Fundo Ambiental (Environmental Fund) website (fundoambiental.pt) acts as the main reference point for information on available financial support instruments and funding opportunities related to environmental and energy initiatives.

Portugal Energia (portugalenergia.pt) provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the national energy sector, with a particular focus on citizens and energy consumers. The platform supports informed consumer choices by explaining the functioning of the liberalised electricity and natural gas markets and facilitating supplier comparison and switching. It also serves policymakers, researchers, and the general public by offering tools for policy evaluation, knowledge dissemination, and the promotion of scientific research, in collaboration with universities and research organisations. Through its financing section, the website highlights several funding mechanisms—including Casa Eficiente, PPEC, FEE, and FAI—aimed at supporting households and businesses in meeting Portugal’s energy and climate objectives.

ELPPE identifies “supporting the growth of municipal renewable energy communities” (M 3.1.3) as a key strategic action, placing particular focus on inland municipalities, social housing, and vulnerable populations. In addition, self-consumption programmes developed in collaboration with municipalities offer both technical guidance and financial assistance to help local authorities establish Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), while also streamlining access to self-consumption frameworks. Citizen Energy Spaces function as community-based hubs within municipal climate strategies, providing technical expertise, legal counselling, and information on available funding for RECs. Municipalities, cooperatives, and residents are further supported through dedicated guides and workshops that address the administrative, legal, and technical requirements of REC involvement. The Green Public Procurement initiative (ECO360) mandates the integration of renewable energy criteria into public purchasing processes, allowing municipalities to promote RECs through projects in public facilities such as schools, swimming pools, and sports centres. Finally, both regional and municipal climate action plans—aligned with national climate targets and Local Heating and Cooling Plans—explicitly incorporate renewable energy communities as a core component of local energy strategies.

Energy communities are mentioned both in the Semester 2025 Country Report and the Country-Specific Recommendations.