Energy, Electricity and Smart Grids in Latvia and Portugal – Developments and Concerns

This article explores the electricity sector of Latvia and Portugal, the European Union’s (EU) policy on clean energy, electricity, and smart technologies, the relationship developed between them, and the feasibility of smart grids’ and other new tools and technologies’ popularisation in the context of the Latvian and Portuguese electricity markets. As member states of the EU, Latvia and Portugal must follow the decentralization agenda while increasing their use of encouraging renewable energy sources and establish better interconnection of electricity between their respective neighbouring member states. In this context, this article explores the electricity market of Latvia and Portugal, taking into account promising policies introduced by the EU that aim to incorporate new technologies such as storage solutions and the creation of smart grids. The article looks at how the priority of decentralized energy is being achieved in Latvia and Portugal. It explores the current domestic energy market in both countries, the current remarkable achievements in energy decentralization in terms of policy and legislation, as well as unique obstacles that have become apparent. It assesses new technologies and novel projects introduced to incentivize or further develop such technologies, namely smart metering systems, electric mobility, demand response, and electricity storage technologies. The article also looks at data protection concerns, the interconnection between the electricity markets of Portugal and Spain and the possibility of a place in the market for the new clean energy sources. The article concludes the domestic reality in both countries and outlines a set of recommendations to facilitate the introduction of new technologies in the energy sector and how to further implement the decentralization of the electricity market.