Order No. 281-A/2026/1 establishing the Support Scheme for the Production of Renewable Hydrogen and Other Renewable Gases.

This Order establishes the Support Scheme for the Production of Renewable Hydrogen and other Renewable Gases under the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), specifically within Investment C14‑i04. Its main objective is to accelerate the development of a low-carbon energy system by supporting investments in the production and use of renewable hydrogen and other renewable gases, thereby contributing to the reduction of fossil-fuel dependency, the decarbonization of industry and transport, and the achievement of national and European climate and energy targets. The scheme is designed to stimulate private investment, improve access to financing in the renewable energy sector, and support Portugal’s green transition while ensuring compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) principle and the environmental objectives established under EU legislation. The regulation defines the eligibility conditions, financing rules, project selection criteria, implementation requirements, and control mechanisms applicable to beneficiaries seeking support. Eligible projects include the production of renewable hydrogen and other renewable gases through both innovative technologies and technologies already demonstrated but not yet widely deployed in Portugal. The scheme provides non-repayable grants, financed by the PRR and managed through the Environmental Fund and the Agency for Climate (ApC), to support investment costs associated with renewable-gas production, including related storage, transport, and distribution infrastructure where necessary. The Order also establishes safeguards concerning aid intensity, environmental sustainability, State-aid compliance, monitoring, audits, reporting obligations, and long-term maintenance of supported investments, with the broader aim of fostering innovation, renewable energy deployment, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable economic development.