Government closes special team dedicated to promoting renewable energy in Portugal

The Government has decided to dissolve the special team that accelerated the licensing of renewable energy projects in Portugal. Understand what changes for those planning solar panels, energy communities, and efficient buildings.

Government closes special team: immediate impacts on renewable energy licensing

The Mission Structure for the Licensing of Renewable Energy Projects (EMER 2030), created in March 2024 by Resolution of the Council of Ministers, closes ahead of the 2030 deadline. According to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the milestones that justified its existence — such as the One-Stop Shop, the transposition of RED III, and the acceleration zones — have been met and incorporated into diplomas and administrative routines. For those preparing a solar, small-scale wind, or energy community project, licensing does not stop; it changes the institutional “umbrella”.

For just over a year, the EMER operated with about 30 technicians to simplify processes and monitor deadlines. Its last president, Hugo Carvalho, appointed in 2024, resigned on September 1, 2025, to return to the private sector, having, according to the authority, concluded the assigned work. What was an exception becomes the rule: standardized procedures, transparency in timelines, and articulation between entities. The key now is to know how to navigate the same channels without the “special team” at the center.

What EMER 2030 left ready and how to take advantage

There are three practical legacies worth exploring. First, the One-Stop Shop for submission and monitoring, which concentrates documentation and requests. Then, acceleration zones where environmental licensing is faster, respecting sensitivity criteria. Finally, technical guides and checklists used in standardizing processes, now replicated by municipalities and agencies.

• ✅ Submit a clear technical dossier 🗂️ – project sheet, layout, shading study, connection capacity, maps, and servitudes.
• ✅ Confirm if the site is in an acceleration zone 🗺️ – reduces additional requests and shortens deadlines.
• ✅ Schedule a preliminary meeting 🤝 – initial alignment with the municipality avoids reworks and unnecessary requests.
• ⚠️ Do not neglect the neighborhood 🗣️ – a simple public session decreases contestations and stoppages.

Realistic example: “Ribeira Viva” Community

An apartment building with 80 units, in a village in Minho, plans to create an energy community with 400 kWp on rooftops and 100 kW of shared storage. Without the EMER, the plan does not change: submission at the One-Stop Shop, connection opinion from the distributor, and municipal license aligned with the building regulation. The critical factor was to early map servitudes (heritage protection in one of the blocks) and adjust the photovoltaic implantation, avoiding five weeks of delay.

In summary, licensing has become more predictable, provided that the technical preparation is competent and communication with the municipality is carried out early.

How to maintain the momentum of renewables without EMER: practical steps for municipalities, companies, and families

Without the special team, efficiency arises from method. Three coordinated fronts ensure traction: rigorous technical preparation, realistic phased schedule, and polite yet assertive institutional dialogue. For municipalities, it is worth anticipating regulations aligned with RED III; for companies and families, complete dossiers and public timelines help keep everyone focused.

The One-Stop Shop remains the digital gateway for projects. Some municipalities have created “green avenues” for self-consumption up to a certain capacity, reducing travels and repeated requests. The secret is to standardize: designs, descriptive reports, production spreadsheets, and electrical safety sheets the same across all projects, changing only key parameters.

One-Stop Shop and alternatives when there are bottlenecks

If the One-Stop Shop concentrates too many requests, scale intelligently. First, submit the essentials well organized; second, negotiate a clarification meeting with the technical services; third, use the formal channels of complaint regarding deadlines only when necessary. Haste without method creates delays.

• 🚀 Standardize memorandums – one template for self-consumption, another for communities, and a third for BIPV.
• 📅 30-60-90 roadmap – visible internal deadlines for all partners.
• 🔌 Pre-connection study – anticipate capacity limits and reinforcement costs.
• 🤝 Protocol with the municipality – a channel for batch questions and answers to reduce back-and-forth.

Practical roadmap for 90 days to start and finish without setbacks

Small and medium projects can close licenses in 90 days when the documentation is solid and the implantation is adequate. The calendar below is a working reference for those who want predictability and discipline.

For those looking to delve into processes and practical cases of energy communities, the following video offers a useful and updated view on framing and operation.

The central message is simple: technical organization, clear communication, and respect for administrative rites keep the machine running, even without a dedicated mission structure.

Portugal in 2025: goals, data, and opportunities with the end of EMER 2030

The momentum of renewables in Portugal is solid. There were months when renewable electricity covered nearly 95% of demand, and in recent periods, the average value hovered just above 90%, reflecting a robust hydro and wind park and the accelerated entry of solar. The goal for 2030 is to achieve about 85% renewable electricity, a target aligned with European ambition and the acceleration of self-consumption and community projects.

In terms of final energy (not just electricity), renewable production includes biomass, hydro, wind, photovoltaic, geothermal, heat pumps, and solar thermal. In 2023, biomass represented a significant share, renewable electricity grew, and heat pumps gained importance. For the citizen, this translates into more stable bills and less exposure to gas prices.

Where we stand: renewable electricity vs. final energy

It is common to confuse the percentage of renewable electricity with that of total energy. The former is higher due to the weight of hydro, wind, and solar in the electric mix, while the latter dilutes this effect with transport and heat. Enhancing heat pumps, solar thermal, and electric mobility is crucial to closing this gap.

• 🏠 Buildings – insulation, efficient windows, and heat pumps reduce consumption and emissions.
• 🔋 Storage – home and community batteries smooth peaks and relieve the grid.
• 🚗 Electric mobility – V2H and V2G integrate distributed energy and optimize costs.
• 🌬️ Wind and solar – greater seasonal complementarity improves system stability.

For a comprehensive view of trends and challenges in the national electricity sector, the content below helps connect goals, technology, and public policy.

The end of EMER 2030 does not alter the essentials: Portugal has clear goals, a solid technological base, and legal mechanisms to accelerate. It is up to developers to make good use of the tools and for municipalities to continue refining procedures.

Sustainable housing and passive houses: decisions that reduce consumption and accelerate energy autonomy

With or without EMER, the way houses are built and rehabilitated defines the energy bill of the next decade. Passive houses and well-thought-out rehabilitations combine comfort with lower bills, reducing the need for contracted power and making self-consumption more effective. The focus is on reducing thermal load and adding local production with intelligent management.

In the practical construction process in Portugal, it is observed that a simple package — airtightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, shading, and PV on roofs — transforms buildings. The better the building’s “envelope,” the lesser the investment in equipment, and the greater the benefit of the kWh produced on the roof.

Measures with better return and integration with PV/BIPV

For quick and secure decisions, prioritize interventions with proven payback. Insulation in roofs and façades, high-performance windows, and modulating heat pumps are pillars. Next, add PV or BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaics), which is increasingly accessible and aesthetic.

• 🧱 Thermal envelope first – insulation and windows before “filling” the house with machinery.
• 🌡️ Modulating heat pumps – sizing based on real thermal load, not on guesswork.
• ☀️ Integrated PV/BIPV – production on roofs and sunlit façades to smooth peaks.
• 🔋 Storage and control – batteries + home EMS for self-consumption above 60-70%.

How much it costs, how much you save: quick priority guide

The table below organizes typical choices in an efficient rehabilitation. The values are illustrative and should be adjusted to the context of each project, but they provide a useful order of magnitude for planning.

If you are looking for references, tested ideas in construction, and solutions compatible with rehabilitation in Portugal, explore practical content at Ecopassivehouses.pt. The golden rule remains valid: less loss, more local production, and intelligent management form the trio that ensures real energy autonomy.

Regulatory risks and good compliance practices: how to avoid delays and extra costs

The closing of EMER 2030 does not eliminate requirements; it reinforces the importance of clean processes. Compliance starts in the design of the project, when selecting the site, assessing servitudes, and planning the electrical connection. The earlier environmental and urban criteria are integrated, the lower the likelihood of costly reformulations.

The acceleration zones create faster corridors, but they do not exempt technical quality. Municipalities maintain competencies and environmental entities seek objective evidence. Transparency and traceability — with dated versions of documents, standard templates, and meeting records — reduce misunderstandings and make deadlines more predictable.

Risk map and how to mitigate them before they grow

Build a risk map specific to your project. Score probability, impact, and mitigation plan. Three items often lead the list: grid connection, environmental framing, and local opposition. An honest communication plan with neighbors and entities transforms resistance into collaboration.

• 🧭 Official checklists – follow published models and attach everything in a single submission.
• 🧪 Technical proofs – simulations, measurements, and calculated reports avoid additional requests.
• 📣 Communication with stakeholders – meeting minutes, project FAQ, and clear deadlines.
• 📍 Acceleration zones – confirm framing and document eligibility criteria.

Case study: “Campo Verde” Solar

A 1 MWp project in an industrial park in Alentejo faced uncertainties in connection. The promoter prepared three power scenarios, each with costs and reinforcement alternatives, and presented them to the entities before formal submission. As a result, the opinion aligned with the best scenario, avoiding months of waiting and budget revisions. To close the loop, an open day with neighboring companies calmed fears about reflections and noise.

In the end, compliance is method: solid documentation, respectful communication, and focus on data-driven decisions.

Source: expresso.pt