ConvERSE hosted a discussion on energy storage

ConvERSE hosted a discussion on energy storage

06/05/2026

On 27 April 2026, ERSE – the Energy Services Regulatory Authority – held a ConvERSE initiative dedicated to energy storage, focusing on batteries and thermal energy storage from regulatory, technological and market perspective.

The event, which brought together around 350 participants (both online and in person), was attended by the Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, Jean Barroca, who highlighted the role of storage in this new phase of the electricity sector in Portugal, following an initial stage characterised by the widespread adoption of renewable energy. “We are facing a phase that requires the ability to integrate, manage and use this energy efficiently, safely and flexibly,” stated the Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, emphasising the decisive role that regulation will play in this process.

“Through regulation, we will be able to create clear market signals, properly value the services provided by storage—namely flexibility, reserve capacity and stability—and, above all, anticipate and mitigate unwanted effects, such as market imbalances or distortions in investment incentives. Predictable, balanced and robust regulation is essential to ensure that the growth of storage occurs in a sustainable manner and in line with the objectives of the electricity system and the interests of consumers,” added Jean Barroca.

This was followed by a presentation by Luís Rebelo, Public Policy Manager at Cleantech for Iberia, who outlined the current situation and future opportunities for energy storage in Portugal.

The first panel, moderated by Artur Trindade, head of ERSE’s Impact Assessment Project Structure, analysed the role of battery energy storage and its complementarity with renewables. Participants in this round table included energy consultant António Vidigal; Bruno Nunes, Director and Head of System Management at REN; Luis Alves, Director of Asset Management and Network Planning at E-Redes; Pedro Amaral Jorge, President of OMIP-OMIE; and Professor João Peças Lopes, from INESC TEC.

The second part of this event, focusing on thermal energy storage, began with a presentation by Alberto Toril Castro, Director for the Iberian Peninsula and the Middle East at Rondo Energy, who discussed the main technologies available, recent developments and new prospects for the industry and investors, as well as their contribution to industrial decarbonisation.

The round table that followed was moderated by António Domingues, Coordinator of the Office for Innovation and Special Project Development at ERSE. Participants in the debate included António Coutinho, President of APE – Portuguese Energy Association; Luís Miranda Cardoso, Senior Project Manager at Siemens Energy; Luís Rebelo, Public Policy Manager at Cleantech for Iberia; António Caixinha, Global Director of B2B Product Development – Energy and Heat Electrification at EDP; and Alvaro Mozo, Vice-President of Supply Chain and Strategy at Malta Energy.

In the closing session, Pedro Verdelho, President of ERSE, emphasised that the current volatility in electricity prices during the day, from hour to hour, highlights the need for energy storage and for optimising the electricity system.

“These are complex solutions that provide multiple services. It is essential to deepen the debate and, through an appropriate regulatory framework, enable the full realisation of the benefits these technologies offer the system,” said Pedro Verdelho. The ERSE chairman also emphasised that the challenge goes beyond electricity alone , involving the integration of systems and different energy sources. “If we do it right, it will be more efficient and more economical,” he concluded.