Electricity consumption for the first nine months hits a 15-year record

Electricity consumption in Portugal grew again in September, with a year-on-year change of 2.2%, or 1.4% considering the effects of temperature and the number of working days. From January to September, consumption totalled 39.2 TWh, the highest ever recorded in the national system for this period, exceeding the previous maximum, recorded in 2010, by 0.8%. Compared to the same period last year, growth was 2.6%, or 2.0% when adjusted for temperature and working days.

In the first nine months of the year, renewable production supplied 70% of consumption, with hydroelectric (28%), wind (24%), solar (13%) — which grew 25% compared to the previous year — and biomass (5%) standing out. Natural gas production accounted for 14% of consumption, while the remaining 16% corresponded to imported energy. The average productivity indices were 1.38 for hydroelectric, 1.02 for wind and 0.89 for solar.

September was marked by particularly favourable conditions for wind power production, which recorded a productivity index of 1.37. Hydroelectric production was close to average, although less significant as it was still a summer month. Solar production faced less favourable conditions, with an index of 0.95. Overall, renewable production supplied 57% of consumption and non-renewable production 17%, while the remaining 26% was covered by imports.

In the natural gas market, September saw positive growth, with an 18% year-on-year increase, driven by the electricity production segment, which more than doubled compared to the same month last year. In contrast, the conventional segment, which includes other consumers, saw a 3.4% decline.

At the end of the third quarter, cumulative natural gas consumption showed a year-on-year variation of 13%, resulting from 132% growth in the electricity production segment and an 8% contraction in the conventional segment.

During September, the national supply was fully secured from the Sines LNG terminal. The interconnection with Spain once again recorded an export balance, equivalent to around 7% of national consumption. In the first nine months of the year, the national system has been supplied almost exclusively from the Sines terminal, mainly from Nigeria (49%) and the United States (39%).