The Portuguese Government has put out for public consultation the diploma that aims to update the national renewable energy targets and implement monitoring and certification mechanisms, partially complying with Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (Renewable Energy Directive - RED III). Among the main measures of the legislative project are:
- Update of national targets: Portugal aims to reach 49% of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030, with intermediate stages of ≥40% in 2025 and ≥44% in 2028, and 5% of innovative renewable technologies in installed capacity by 2030.
- Buildings, industry and heating/cooling sector: In buildings, 75% of the energy consumed should be from renewable sources by 2030, allowing up to 20% of waste heat and cold to be accounted for. The industry is expected to increase the share of renewables by 16 percentage points by 2030, with specific targets for renewable hydrogen of 42% by 2030 and 60% by 2035. In heating and cooling, the minimum shares are set at 46% in 2025 and 63% in 2029, with incentives for heat pumps, efficient district networks and biogas/biomethane.
- Transport sector: The overall target is 29% renewables by 2030, with specific shares for road (28%), maritime (18%) and non-electrified rail (14%), including a minimum of advanced biofuels, hydrogen and non-bio-renewable fuels.
- Sustainability criteria: The diploma reinforces the rules for biofuels and bioliquids, limiting the contribution of food crops to biofuel production to 3.1% and excluding fuels with a high risk of indirect land-use change, unless certified as low risk.
- Bond system: Biofuel (TdB), low carbon (TdC) and renewable electricity (TdE) bonds issued by ENSE are created. The system also provides for credits and compensation to suppliers who do not meet the targets.
There are already some reactions in the Portuguese media: there are also those who see an opportunity opening up for the energy sector coming from the acceleration of the pace of incorporation of renewables in final consumption (80% of renewables in the electricity system in 2026, against 85% in 2030). But it is also worth highlighting the less ambitious goals than the National Commitment: The influential weekly newspaper Expresso questions the 49% fixation in the diploma, contrasting with the 51% of the PNEC 2030. The online newspaper Observador notes that the diploma sets targets for specific sectors (buildings, industry, heating), but without deepening the monitoring mechanisms, which can generate critical contributions during the consultation.Citizens, companies and associations can participate in this public consultation on the ConsultaLex platform until October 25th.