The Portuguese government has opened a public consultation on its proposed Regulation for the Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations, seeking to establish a technical and safety framework for deploying this infrastructure.

The document, open for contributions since 8 July, defines the requirements for installing and operating both public and private facilities. The government said the framework aims to strengthen the safety, reliability and regulatory compliance of projects while providing greater certainty for companies investing in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

The regulation will apply to stations supplying road vehicles, vessels, parked aircraft and forklifts. It will also cover mobile hydrogen refuelling stations, which are expected to enable more flexible solutions during the initial stages of network development.

Infrastructure to bring hydrogen into the real economy

The Portuguese government considers renewable hydrogen a potential solution for reducing emissions from transport, particularly in segments that are difficult to electrify directly. However, it noted that its wider use will depend on the availability of a safe and reliable refuelling network.

“Hydrogen production only makes sense if it reaches the real economy and the sectors that are hardest to electrify, such as factories and heavy transport services,” said Portugal’s Minister for Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho.

“With this regulation, we are ensuring predictability for investors and safety for users,” she added.

The initiative supports Portugal’s commitments on energy transition and sustainable mobility, particularly the targets established under the country’s National Policy Framework and the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

The consultation is being conducted through the official ConsultaLex platform and will remain open for 30 days, until 7 August 2026. Companies, organisations, citizens and other interested parties may submit comments on the proposed regulation during this period.