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Portugal Renewable Gases and Hydrogen Framework (Law No. 79/2025)

Portugal Renewable Gases and Hydrogen Framework (Law No. 79/2025): Portugal Hydrogen and Renewable Gases: Gas System Reform and Quota-Based Integration

Maílis Carrilho
Written by Maílis Carrilho
Updated on June 7th, 2026

Summary

Portugal’s Decree-Law 62/2020 обновised the National Gas System and formally recognised renewable gases, particularly hydrogen, creating a basis for system integration and for defining incorporation quotas for renewable and low-carbon gases. The regime has been significantly updated by Decree-Law 79/2025, which entered into force in May 2025 and reforms the regulatory framework for renewable hydrogen within the gas system. Compliance obligations depend on market role but typically involve system authorisations, integration conditions and potential quota mechanisms. Key risks include operating without the required regulatory status or failing to meet injection and system participation conditions.

Details

Jurisdictions
  • Portugal
Mandatory for

Legally binding for:

System operators and regulated gas market actors.

Renewable gas and hydrogen producers and market participants where the regime imposes registration, system integration and quota-related duties (implementation mechanisms can depend on secondary rules and procedures).

Exemptions

Applicability depends on role (producer, supplier, network operator) and whether the activity falls within regulated system integration and quota mechanisms.

Deep dive

2 min read
Published Jun 7, 2026

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What’s Required

Portugal’s Decree-Law 62/2020 modernises the National Gas System framework and explicitly supports renewable gases, particularly hydrogen, including:

  • Regulatory recognition of renewable gases and the framework to support their integration into the gas system.

  • Mechanisms to define incorporation quotas for renewable/low-carbon gases and to operationalise market integration.

  • Ongoing reform: Decree-Law 79/2025 amended the gas system framework to update renewable hydrogen regulation and reform related rules, entering into force in May 2025 (per legal commentary).

Important Deadlines

  • 29 August 2020: Decree-Law 62/2020 entered into force.

  • 22 May 2025: Decree-Law 79/2025 entered into force (as reported in legal analysis).

Current Status

In force and actively evolving, with significant 2025 amendments strengthening and updating the hydrogen and renewable gas framework.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

  • Administrative enforcement: licensing/registration consequences, corrective orders, and market participation restrictions under the gas system regulatory model.

  • Financial exposure where quota or system obligations are not met (depending on implementing mechanisms).

Examples of Known Violations

  • Operating renewable gas production or system injection arrangements without proper registration or system authorisation where required.

  • Failure to meet system integration conditions for injection or market participation, leading to restrictions or corrective orders.

Resources

Maílis Carrilho
Added by:
Maílis Carrilho
Sustainability Research Analyst
Maílis Carrilho is a Sustainability Research Analyst (Intern) at Net Zero Compare, contributing research and analysis on climate tech, carbon policies, and sustainable solutions. She supports the team in developing fact-based content and insights to help companies and readers navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
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Added on Jun 7, 2026 by Maílis Carrilho ·
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