Exceptional Procedure for Allocating Grid Connection Capacity - Sines

On November 20, the Portuguese Government announced that it has received a firm expression of interest in relation to 17 projects, in the context of the Exceptional Procedure for Allocating Grid Connection Capacity, as part of the allocation of grid connection capacity for electricity consumption facilities in the Sines area.

The press release states that there is a firm demand (procura firme) for 4.9 GVA of electricity consumption power from 17 projects presented by 12 entities, 9 of which are of Potential National Interest. Although during the expression of interest phase a demand for a connection capacity of 7.9 GVA was registered for the period between 2024 and 2038, corresponding to 32 projects from 25 entities, the fact is that only 12 entities confirmed the terms of such demand by providing a bond. In total, bonds amounting to EUR 63,000,000.00 were provided.

The phase of confirming the firm demand (procura firme) for grid connection capacity will now be followed by the assessment by the operator of the Public Service Electricity Grid (Rede Elétrica de Serviço Público) of the necessary grid reinforcement and then the notification of holders of idle capacity so that it can be released and awarded through the Exceptional Procedure.

Finally, the Portuguese Government guarantees that if the demand for grid capacity confirmed in the context of the Exceptional Procedure is greater than the supply resulting from grid reinforcements and the availability of idle capacity, a competitive procedure will be carried out to allocate the capacity, giving priority to projects of Potential National Interest and PRR Mobilizing Agendas (Agendas Mobilizadoras PRR), due to their strategic and transformative nature.