Suspension of cancellation of registrations for the production of gases from renewable sources

On 23 February, 2024, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate issued an order determining that, for 3 months from the date of signature - until 23 May, 2024 - the competent bodies of the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology should not issue any acts cancelling prior registrations already granted to projects for the production of gases of renewable origin.

This "suspension of powers" provided for in Article 70(1) of Decree-Law 62/2020, of 28 August, which, as is known, establishes the organization and operation of the National Gas System, is justified by the need to ensure that these projects can compete in the auction for the centralized purchase of biomethane and hydrogen produced by electrolysis from water which, having been scheduled for 10 November, 2023, has not yet taken place due to the political context in the country.  

Although the Order does not give a new date, it does indicate that the auction will take place as soon as possible.

For more information, the Order can be consulted here.

Rectification of the deadline extension order published on 22 February

On the same day, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate also rectified the Order issued in conjunction with the Secretary of State for the Environment published on 22 February, 2024. It should be remembered that this order extended, among other things, the deadlines for the solar auction projects held in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Therefore, paragraph 1 stated:

"(iii) The deadlines provided for in points a) and d) of paragraph 4 of Clause 7 of the Terms of Reference of the Competitive Procedure for the Allocation of Injection Capacity in the Public Service Electricity Grid for Electricity from Solar Energy Conversion, opened by Order no. 11740-B/2021, of November 26; "

should be read as:

" The deadlines provided for in points a) and c) of paragraph 4 of Clause 7 of the Specifications of the Competitive Procedure for the Allocation of Injection Capacity in the Public Service Electricity Grid for Electricity from Solar Energy Conversion, opened by Order no. 11740-B/2021, of November 26; "
 

For more information, the Rectification can be consulted here.