Renewables supplied 72% of national electricity consumption by the end of November

Electricity consumption in the first eleven months of the year was 72% supplied by renewable energy sources. During this period, hydropower stood out, with a productivity index of 1.29 (historical average equals 1), accounting for 29% of total consumption. Wind energy, with an index of 1.08, supplied 27%, while solar energy, with an index of 0.94, contributed 10% of the electricity consumed. Biomass plants provided the remaining 6%. Natural gas generation accounted for 9% of consumption, while the import balance represented 19%.

It is worth noting that in 2023, renewable generation supplied 61% of electricity consumption in Portugal, totalling 31.2 TWh, the highest value ever recorded in the national system.

In November alone, renewable energy sources supplied 68% of consumption, while non-renewable production accounted for just 13%. The balance of foreign exchanges maintained an import trend, representing 19% of consumption. Wind energy benefited from favourable conditions, with a productivity index of 1.09, achieving its highest daily production ever on 24 November, with 110.4 GWh. Conversely, hydropower and photovoltaic production had productivity indices of 0.72 and 0.87, respectively.

Regarding electricity consumption, there was a year-on-year growth of 1.5% (or 2.1% when adjusted for temperature and working days) from January to November. In November, consumption decreased by 1.7% year-on-year, influenced by above-average temperatures. Adjusting for temperature effects and the number of working days, there was a 0.7% increase in consumption.

As for natural gas consumption, November marked the first month this year where consumption was on par with the same month last year. In the electricity market segment, there was a 9% year-on-year increase, whereas in the conventional segment, which includes other customers, consumption fell by 2.6%.

By the end of November, annual natural gas consumption reached its lowest levels since 2003, with a 20% drop, including a 62% decline in the electricity generation segment and a 2.7% increase in the conventional segment. Most of the gas received at the Sines terminal originated from Nigeria (53%) and the USA (41%).