Portugal eases rules for shared renewable energy projects

Portugal's government has approved a decree-law revising the rules for collective self-consumption and energy communities, aiming to cut red tape and expand renewable energy sharing. The changes widen the allowed distance between production units and consumers, simplify grid-operator consultation requirements, and raise the threshold for installations exempt from prior authorisation from 700 to 800 watts. Since April 2025, grid-connected energy communities have grown by 800 to reach 1,218 projects. The government also introduced guiding principles for collective self-consumption and plans a national map of such projects, alongside other measures like a partial bill exemption for new projects launching before 2029.