Reinforcing the Power Grid Following Mass Outage
Portugal's Environment and Energy Minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced a comprehensive plan to improve the country's electricity grid and enhance operational security, following a major blackout in April 2025. The investment totals approximately €400 million.
The plan includes several key measures:
- Approximately €137 million will be allocated to modernize the operation and control systems of the electricity grid, with projects to enhance digital capabilities and security infrastructure, and improve accuracy in current and voltage measurements through the installation of shunt devices.
- The government aims to increase the battery storage capacity dramatically from 13 MW to 750 MW. This expansion is central for smoothing renewable output variability and ensuring energy autonomy for critical services like hospitals, fire, and security agencies.
- The government will introduce a decree to expedite the implementation of these measures.
- Additional initiatives include launching a battery storage auction by 2026, allocating €25 million to reinforce critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, with photovoltaic panels and backup batteries.
- The plan also involves modernizing grid control systems, creating a unified electricity data collection platform, and developing a national electricity storage strategy combining chemical (battery) and hydropower technologies.
- Portugal is investigating new cross-border electricity interconnections, including potential grid links with Morocco (already connected to Spain) and strengthening ties with Spain and France for Iberian grid integration and stability.
These efforts aim to improve grid resilience and operational security while minimizing impacts on consumer tariffs, fostering a more secure, modern, and renewable-friendly electricity system.
The conclusions of the July 15 meeting of the European Network of Transmission Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) expert panel have been released. The government is working on a "national storage plan" to increase electricity storage capacity, which may include both chemical storage (batteries) and hydroelectric storage (dam capacity). However, the final report detailing the causes of the April blackout was not yet available at the time of the announcement. A final report with recommendations to the European Commission and Member States will be delivered two to three months after the submission of the factual report.
- Portugal's national storage plan, which is currently under development, envisions increasing electricity storage capacity using both chemical storage (batteries) and hydroelectric storage (dam capacity) as part of a larger strategy to improve the country's energy resilience and security.
- Aside from enhancing grid modernization and digital capabilities, the Portuguese government's comprehensive plan to improve the electricity grid also encompasses the implementation of a unified electricity data collection platform and a national electricity storage strategy, encompassing both chemical (batteries) and hydropower technologies.
- As the government works towards increasing battery storage capacity from 13 MW to 750 MW, they aim to foster energy autonomy for critical services like hospitals, fire, and security agencies, thereby smoothing renewable output variability and minimizing impacts on consumer tariffs.
