Who owns the low voltage distribution grid in Portugal?

Portugal’s 308 municipalities own the low voltage distribution grid contained within their physical territory. Each municipality can directly operate its section of the low voltage distribution grid or transfer operation to a third party through an exclusive 20-year concession.

What is Portugal's electricity system?

In 2020, Portugal’s electricity system consisted of a nationwide transmission system composed of very-high voltage lines connected to Spain with nine cross-border interconnections, and a distribution system composed of high, medium and low voltage lines and cables operated by 13 distribution system operators (DSOs).

Does Portugal have a new grid code?

Like Spain, Portugal also began developing a new grid code based on the European regulation EU 2016/631. In particular, Portugal launched an ordinance, ‘Portaria n.o 73/2020’, in March 2020 .

Do smart inverters support grid voltage regulation?

of smart inverters to contribute to voltage regulation. The IEEE standard is not prescriptive as to how smart inverters shall support grid voltage management, instead it requires a set of capabilities that smar

Is energy storage regulated in Portugal?

Although pumped hydro storage has existed in Portugal for several decades and battery storage is expected to gain traction in the near future, energy storage is not directly regulated under the main legisla-tive bodies of electricity regulation (notably Directive 2009/72/EC and Decree-Law No. 29/2006 of 15 February).

Why is Portugal a net importer of electricity?

Portugal’s electricity supply is split between renewables (mostly wind and hydro) and fossil fuels (mostly natural gas and coal). Thanks in part to expanding renewable generation, Portugal became a net electricity exporter for the first time in 2016 and maintained this position until 2019, when it once again became a net importer of electricity.