Electricity consumption reaches all-time high in the first half of the year

Electricity consumption in Portugal reached its highest ever level in the national grid in the first half of 2025. Between January and June, 26,229 GWh were consumed, exceeding the previous maximum of around 240 GWh, recorded in 2010. This represents an increase of 2.2% compared to the same period last year, or 2.0% considering the effects of temperature and the number of working days.

In June, consumption grew again, by 4.4%, or 3.1% when adjusted for the effects of temperature and working days.

Despite the increase in demand, weather conditions were unfavourable for electricity production from renewable sources. Productivity indices were below average: 0.92 for hydroelectric, 0.88 for wind and 0.91 for solar. Even so, solar energy continued to grow, with daily peaks exceeding 3,200 MW and, for the first time, a monthly share equivalent to that of wind energy.

In total, renewable production supplied 55% of consumption in June, while non-renewable production accounted for 17% and the remaining 28% was covered by imports.

In the first half of the year, renewable production supplied 77% of consumption, with hydroelectric power accounting for 36%, wind 26%, solar 11% and biomass 5%. Natural gas production supplied 13% of consumption, while the remaining 10% corresponded to imported energy. Average productivity rates for the half-year were 1.41 for hydroelectric, 0.98 for wind and 0.88 for solar.

In the natural gas market, consumption in June grew by 32% year-on-year, driven by increased electricity production from natural gas. In contrast, the conventional segment, which includes other consumers, fell by around 14%.

In the first half of the year, cumulative natural gas consumption grew by 10.1%, with the electricity production segment more than doubling compared to the same period last year. The conventional segment, on the other hand, contracted by 7.6%, reaching its lowest level since 2009.

The national system was almost entirely supplied by the Sines LNG terminal, with two-thirds of the gas coming from Nigeria. In the first half of the year, 96% of the supply came through Sines, with Nigeria and the United States accounting for 54% and 33% of the total gas consumed in Portugal, respectively.