Renewable energy in Portugal was the source for 25.7% of total energy consumption in 2013.[1] In 2014, 27% of Portugal''s energy needs were supplied by renewable sources.[2] In 2016, 28% of final energy consumption in Portugal came from renewable sources.[3]
In 2018, Portugal committed to close all of the country''s coal producing facilities by 2030, making it almost completely reliant on renewable energy in the coming years.[5] As of 2019, coal still provided 40% of Portugal''s electricity needs.[4] The last Portuguese coal power plant closed on 19 November 2021.[6]
While from 2002 to 2007 the main priorities were focused on the introduction of natural gas (aiming at progressively replacing oil and coal in the energy balance) and liberalization of the energy market (by opening this former state-owned sector to competition and private investment), the emphasis shifted for the next 5 years was on energy efficiency (supply and demand sides) and use of endogenous (renewable) energy.[7]
During February 2016, an equivalent to 95% of electricity consumed in Portugal was produced by renewable sources such as biomass, hydropower, wind power and solar power. A total of 4139 GWh was produced by these sources.[8] In May 2016, all of Portugal''s electricity was produced renewably for a period of over four days, a landmark achievement for a modern European country.[9]
It is estimated that around 20,000 jobs will be created until 2030 in the solar-photovoltaic industry alone, with EDP having announced an investment of 24 billion Euros in the renewable industry until 2026, most of which directed at wind, solar and green hydrogen production.[18][19][20]
The largest hydroelectric power station is at the Alto Lindoso dam, with a capacity of 630 MW. Portugal has about 100 small hydro systems, with a capacity of 256 MW, which produce 815 GWh/year.[22]
At the end of 2018, wind power capacity in Continental Portugal was 5,368 MW.[23] In 2020, wind powered energy was responsible for 24% of electricity production.[21]
Portugal combines wind and hydropower by using nighttime winds to pump water uphill and sending the water back through generators to produce power the next day; the so-called Pumped-storage hydroelectricity.[24]
At the end of 2018, solar power had a total installed capacity of 828 MW.[25] It represented 2.2% of total power generation in 2019.[26]
Portugal''s main investment for the use of this type of energy is in the Azores. Small scale use of this energy source began in the 1980s in Chaves and S. Pedro do Sul, Continental Portugal providing 3 MWt.
In the Azores the use of Geothermal energy is widespread, with production in 8 of the 9 Islands, collectively producing some 235.5 MWt. In 2003, 25% of the electricity consumed in São Miguel was produced by geothermal energy.[1]
The country experienced 149 consecutive hours during which energy from renewable sources (largely wind and solar) exceeded the industrial and household consumption needs. Between 4 am on October 31st and 9 am on November 6th, for six days, 1,102 GW of power were generated, exceeding the national consumption for the same period by 262 GW.
The second milestone was achieved between 10 am on November 1st and 9 am on November 5th. For 95 consecutive hours, renewable energy production exceeded consumption without the need for natural gas combined cycle plants, and Portugal was even able to export electricity to Spain — breaking the previous record of 52 hours set in 2018.
For Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), the company responsible for the transmission of very high voltage electricity and natural gas in Portugal, the new records show the country is on the right path. "Portugal has been maintaining a sustainable trajectory in progressively integrating indigenous renewable sources," REN said in a press release.
Portugal might not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of renewables, but their progress so far places them among the countries leading the charge. The country aims to generate 85% of its electricity from clean energy by 2030, shutting down all of its natural-gas-fired power plants by 2040 and becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
Countries pledged in the Paris Agreement to limit the increase in the global average temperature to "well below 2 °C" above pre-industrial levels, making efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C. Reaching those targets requires a transformation of the world''s energy sector, the most relevant one in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Portugal committed to an energy transition earlier than the rest of the European Union. In 2016, it pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, several years before the EU committed to that step as a group. The country is one of the handful EU member states (along with Belgium and Sweden) that said no to coal as an energy source.
About Clean electricity portugal
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Clean electricity portugal have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Clean electricity portugal for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Clean electricity portugal featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
