UPAC vs UPP solar in Portugal
Two Portuguese solar licensing terms that confuse almost every expat. The short answer: virtually all new residential installations use UPAC. UPP closed to new applicants in 2019.
If you are installing solar on a residential property in Portugal in 2026, you will be registering under UPAC (Unidade de Produção para Autoconsumo). This is the self consumption regime that has been standard for residential solar since 2019. The other term, UPP (Unidade de Pequena Produção), was a feed-in tariff scheme that closed to new registrations in 2019. You may still encounter it in older articles or when speaking to installers who worked through both eras, but it does not apply to any new installation today.
What UPAC means in practice
Under UPAC, your solar system generates electricity for your own consumption first. Any surplus that you do not use is exported to the grid and compensated at a low regulated price tied to the OMIE wholesale market rate, typically €0.04 to €0.08 per kWh. This is well below the €0.22 per kWh you pay to import electricity, which is why the goal of a well sized UPAC system is to minimise export rather than maximise it.
UPAC is governed by Decree Law 15/2022, which updated the original rules introduced in 2014. All grid tied residential solar installations must be registered through the SERUP portal managed by DGEG before the system can legally export electricity.
UPAC vs UPP at a glance
| Factor | UPAC | UPP |
|---|---|---|
| Open to new registrations (2026) | Yes | No, closed since 2019 |
| Primary use of electricity produced | Self consumption first | Sold to the grid |
| Grid export | Yes, surplus only | Yes, all production |
| Revenue from export | OMIE market rate (~€0.04 to €0.08/kWh) | Fixed tariff (legacy contracts only) |
| DGEG/SERUP registration | Required for grid tied systems | Required (legacy only) |
| Applies to new residential installs | Yes | No |
What UPP was and why it ended
UPP was a pure feed-in tariff: you sold all the electricity your panels generated to the grid at a government-set price, regardless of whether you used any of it yourself. This model was phased out across Europe as feed-in tariffs became too expensive for grid operators to sustain. Portugal closed UPP to new applicants in 2019.
If you bought a property with solar already installed, it is worth checking whether the existing system is registered under an old UPP contract. If it is, the contract will eventually expire and the system will need to be re-registered under UPAC if you want to continue exporting to the grid.
UPAC simplified regime vs full registration
Within UPAC, Decree Law 15/2022 introduced a simplified regime for very small installations. Systems below the simplified threshold are exempt from SERUP registration. In practice, most residential installs in Northern Portugal are 4 to 8 kWp, well above the simplified threshold, so the majority of homeowners will go through the full DGEG registration process.
Tip for expats: The SERUP portal and all DGEG correspondence are in Portuguese. Even if your installer offers to handle registration, confirm in writing which specific steps they are responsible for and which you must complete yourself. See the full DGEG registration guide for a step by step breakdown.
Common questions
Can I still earn money from exporting solar electricity under UPAC?
Yes, but the return is modest. Surplus electricity exported to the grid is compensated at the OMIE wholesale market rate, which in 2026 is typically €0.04 to €0.08 per kWh. The financial case for solar in Portugal is built on what you avoid paying for imported electricity at €0.22 per kWh, not on what you earn by exporting.
What if my property already has solar? How do I know if it is UPAC or UPP?
Check the SERUP portal registration documents for the property. The registration certificate will state whether the system is registered as UPAC or UPP. If you cannot find the documentation, your installer or a local energy advisor can check this for you.
Does Minho Solar help with UPAC registration?
The Blueprint covers the DGEG and SERUP process in plain English for your specific installation, explains which steps your installer should handle, and reviews your installer's quote to confirm that registration responsibilities are clearly assigned.
Making sense of Portuguese solar paperwork
The Blueprint explains UPAC registration in plain English for your property
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