Portugal gets 95% of its electricity from renewable sources. How did it rise to prominence in Europe?
Author: Responsible Business News / Date: 7 June 2024
Portugal has advanced significantly in terms of renewable energy, going from 27% in 2005 to 54% in 2017.
In April, Portugal produced a “historic” 95% of its electricity from renewable sources, as reported by the network operator REN.
For the first four months of the year, renewable energy generation averaged slightly less than that, providing 91% of the country’s electricity demands.
Amidst a significant continental transition, there is one national success story: last month, the EU’s energy supply from fossil fuels fell below 25% for the first time ever.
The clean organisation Ember, which conducted the assessment, also discovered that over 30% of the electricity produced globally today comes from renewable sources. Dave Jones, head of global analytics at Ember, stated that “solar in particular is accelerating faster than anyone thought possible.”
Which renewables generate the most power in Portugal?
Perhaps Solar wasn’t the main attraction in REN’s latest stock analysis.
Thirty percent of Portugal’s electricity came from renewable sources at the end of the year, with hydroelectric facilities accounting for forty-eight percent and wind power for thirty percent.
But according to REN, “the solar component continues to grow substantially.” In April, solar energy reached its biggest monthly value observed to date, accounting for 10.5% of the nation’s electricity usage.
In the first four months of 2024, fossil fuels provided only 9% of the demand, with petrol usage in the power sector halving from the same period in 2023.
Renewables covered 94.9% of the electricity mix in April, a record not set 46 years ago, when they reached 94.4%. REN is seeking more information on this historical record.
A Clean Energy Leader
From 27% in 2005 to 54% in 2017, Portugal has achieved significant progress in the use of renewable energy.
It has taken decarbonisation seriously, increasing its vast hydropower fleet with more storage capacity and gradually phased out coal-fired electricity in 2021.
Additionally, utility-scale projects have been included in the state’s renewable energy auctions since 2019 and green enterprises have been given explicit direction.
All of this has prepared the way for certain significant events. For instance, last autumn’s production of renewable energy actually outpaced the nation’s need for electricity for six days in a row. Portugal ranked third in terms of the percentage of wind energy used in its electrical mix last year, at 29%, behind Denmark (58%) and Ireland (36%).
However, a renewable leader should never rest on their triumphs, just as anywhere else. According to a recent European Electricity Review analysis by Ember, Portugal’s wind power has not yet exceeded its 2019 high.
The National Energy and Climate Plan was amended in 2022, and it assumes a “swift doubling” of present wind capacity, from 5 GW in 2022 to 12 GW in 2030.