Portugal is seeking to promote flexibility and balance its power system with energy storage as it continues to break records for solar energy production. To this end, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced on Wednesday that it has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) in a bid to support 500 MW of energy storage projects.
The Portuguese Ministry of Energy has allocated €99.75 million ($107.6 million) for grid flexibility and energy storage projects which should be installed by the end of 2025. Portugal is seeking to promote flexibility and balance its power system with energy storage as it continues to break records for solar energy production.
Galp, a Portuguese energy company, has announced plans to build a 5 MW/20 MWh battery storage system in Portugal, in collaboration with Powin. The system at one of Galp’s solar plants will enable it to adjust its PV production profile and meet its energy requirements. This project marks Powin’s first venture in Europe.
This project marks Powin’s first venture in Europe. Global energy storage supplier Powin LLC and Portuguese integrated energy company Galp have partnered to install a utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Algarve, Portugal. The 5 MW/20 MWh battery system will be built at one of Galp’s solar power plants near the village of Alcoutim.
In spite of foreseeing some innovative projects for energy storage in Portugal, there is not yet a general framework in this field.
In Portugal, there has been a clear strategic focus on pumped hydro storage projects – currently there are several pumped storage projects across the country. Indeed, Alqueva’s pumped hydro storage project is one of the largest in Western Europe with a combined capacity of over 520 MW, which had an increase in its capacity since 2012.