Renewables supply 72% of electricity consumption in the first ten months of the year

In the first 10 months of the year, renewable energies supplied 72% of electricity consumption in Portugal. During this period, hydropower accounted for 30% of the supply, wind for 26%, photovoltaics for 10%, and biomass for 6%. Generation from natural gas supplied 9% of consumption, the remaining 19% coming from imported energy.

Compared to the first 10 months of 2023, electricity consumption recorded a growth of 1.9%, or 2.3%, when correcting for the effects of temperature and number of working days. It is worth noting that, by the end of October, the consumption of natural gas recorded a year-on-year drop of 21%, with a decrease of 66% in the electricity production segment, and a 3% growth in the conventional segment. Overall, considering this period of the year, this marks the lowest gas consumption since 2004.

In October, renewable generation supplied 68% of consumption, while non-renewable generation supplied 10%. The remaining 22% consisted of imported energy. Conditions in October were especially favourable for hydropower and wind power generation, recording capability indices of 1.76 and 1.27, respectively (historical average of 1). As regards photovoltaics, the capability index did not go beyond 0.77 (historical average of 1), marking the lowest index value in REN’s records for October since 2010.

This month recorded an increase in electricity consumption, with a year-on-year variation of 3.1%, or 1.8% when correcting for the effects of temperature and number of working days.

In October, the downward trend in natural gas consumption continued, with an overall year-on-year decrease of 5.4%. In the electricity production segment, there was a year-on-year drop of 47%, partially offset by the conventional segment, encompassing the remaining customers, which recorded a year-on-year growth of 15.7%. The Portuguese national system continued to be entirely supplied by the Sines LNG terminal.