Renewables supply 58% of the energy consumed in November, hydropower generation stands out

Renewable energies accounted for 58% of the electricity consumed in November, with hydropower generation making a positive contribution to the balance.
 
Electricity consumption recorded a decrease of 2.4% vis-à-vis November of last year, which is explained by the observed above-average temperatures. There was, however, a positive 2% year-on-year variation when correcting for the effects of temperature and number of working days. Year to date, the annual accumulated change is now 2.2%, or 2.6% when correcting for temperature and working days.
 
The hydropower capability index is noteworthy, as the rainfall recorded in November enabled it to reach 1.05 (historical average of 1), 5% above the average for this month. However, it is still limited by the inflows coming from Spain in the Douro, which remain low.  Wind and solar capability indices were, respectively, 0.96 and 1.00 (historical average of 1). With the rise of the hydropower component, the renewable generation supplied 58% of consumption, non-renewable generation supplied 35%, and the import balance supplied the remaining 7% - the lowest number recorded this year.
 
Year to date, the capability index stands at 0.46 for hydropower, 0.97 for wind, and 1.08 for solar (historical average of 1). Renewable generation supplied 45% of consumption, split between wind, providing 24%, hydropower, with 9%, biomass, with 7%, and photovoltaics, with 5%. Generation from natural gas supplied 34% of consumption, while the import balance ensured 21%.
 
In the natural gas market, the trend of reduced consumption continued this month, with a negative 5.7% year-on-year rate, a marginal drop of 0.7% in the electricity generation segment, and a decrease of 9.6% in the conventional segment. The balance of trade via gas pipeline with Spain favoured exports again this month, and corresponded to 1.3% of the Portuguese consumption.
In the period from January to November, the consumption of natural gas recorded a negative 2% year-on-year variation, with a decrease of 19% in the conventional segment and an increase of 30% in the electricity generation segment, which recorded its highest ever value for the year to the end of November.