The Portuguese Government has taken significant steps in the development of offshore wind energy with its Dispatch No. 4752/2025, published on April 21st, establishing that the first Portuguese offshore wind tender will adopt a centralise sequential model; and setting an outline and the calendar for the commencement of competitive procedure.
The centralised sequential model consists of two main stages: the first competitive procedure for the allocation of exclusive use of maritime space, followed by a second procedure for reserving injection capacity into the electrical grid, with possible remuneration models to be defined.
DGRM (the ministerial department for natural resources), DGEG (the ministerial department for energy) and EMER (the mission structure for renewables created by the Portugues Government) must present in 60 days a detailed proposal for the implementation of this first competitive procedure including:
- Confirmation and scheduling of the stages of the first centralized sequential competitive procedure, describing the tasks to be carried out and the expected outcomes at each stage;
- Identification of the maritime zones to be included in the first tender;
- Analysis of the existing legal framework, with proposals for revisions, if necessary;
- Definition of pre-qualification criteria for companies; and
- Identification of additional work needed, including socio-economic studies, the definition of fees and tariffs, legal, consulting, and other relevant tasks.
Within 180 days from this dispatch, the three entities must submit a draft competitive procedure documentation for government approval.
This dispatch an implementation of Council of Ministers Resolution No. 19/2025, which recently approved the Portuguese Offshore Renewable Energy Allocation Plan (PAER).
Can we now expect an offshore wind tender by the end of 2025?