Portugal has opened its National Energy Storage Strategy (ENAE) to public consultation, setting out a roadmap under which the government aims to reach 6.9 GW of installed energy storage capacity by 2030 and 9.76 GW by 2040. The consultation began on 28 August and will remain open until 16 September.

The strategy includes an Action Plan for integrating electricity storage into Portugal’s National Electricity System (SEN) through 2040, accompanied by a technical study and supporting documents. The consultation is promoted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and coordinated by the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG).

The government aims to use energy storage to make better use of Portugal’s growing renewable electricity production and mitigate the variability of solar and wind generation, while increasing grid flexibility and stability and strengthening security of supply. Greater storage capacity is also expected to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and reinforce the country’s energy sovereignty.

The Action Plan was developed on the basis of technical studies carried out by INESC TEC, INESC-ID and IN+ and is aligned with the decarbonisation, electrification and renewable energy integration targets established under Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC 2030).

According to the Portuguese government, reaching 6.9 GW of storage capacity by the end of the decade would roughly double the country’s current capacity.

Batteries and pumped hydropower

The strategy does not rely on a single technology. It envisages rapid-deployment, shorter-lifetime solutions such as batteries alongside larger-scale projects capable of storing energy for longer periods, particularly pumped-storage hydropower.

The Action Plan also establishes four main areas of intervention: economic valuation of storage and participation in system services; development of the regulatory framework; simplification of grid connection procedures; and technological innovation.

Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, said increasing storage capacity would promote greater competition in the energy market while enabling a progressive reduction in electricity generation from combined-cycle natural gas plants.

According to Carvalho, greater storage capacity would help create the conditions for energy to become “more accessible, cheaper and cleaner.”

The public consultation allows citizens, companies and associations to submit comments and documents on the proposed strategy before the process closes on 16 September.