Lisbon, May 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese government will put the National Energy Storage Strategy out for public consultation on 29 June, as part of its policy to strengthen the energy transition, the environment and energy minister announced on Friday.
At the conference “Energy that Moves the Country”, Maria da Graça Carvalho said that the energy transition should be viewed as “an engine of growth”, linking it to the competitiveness of the economy, attracting investment and security of supply.
In this regard, she said that, in the field of storage, the government will put the National Energy Storage Strategy out for public consultation on 29 June, and that this document will prioritise electrochemical battery systems and pumped hydro storage.
In Q1 2026, Portugal achieved a renewable share of 80.7% of the electricity produced in the country, placing it in first place in the European Union (EU), she said.
She also noted that the government aims to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels by 50% by 2035, through investments in grids, storage and the expansion of renewable energy production.
To accelerate decarbonisation, it plans to invest in networks and storage, battery and hydro, to boost electricity generation from renewable sources, and to invest in renewable gases and fuels, such as biomethane, sustainable aviation fuels and e-fuels.
The strategy also includes incentives for the electrification of public transport, support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, and measures targeting industry and buildings.
This week, the Sustainable 2030 Programme launched a call for proposals with a budget of €40 million to fund investments in energy and water efficiency in government buildings, offering local councils non-repayable grants of up to 85%.
The Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) has funded 43 storage projects, totalling over €180 million, enabling support for at least 500 megawatts (MW) of installed battery capacity, she said.
Portugal currently has over 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in reversible hydroelectric power stations, which the government intends to expand to ensure long-term storage and a better balance between solar and wind power generation.
She also emphasised that, in 2025, Portuguese households and businesses had energy prices below the European average, noting that this factor enhances the country’s attractiveness for new investment.
PYR/MYAL // AYLS
Lusa
