Data released today by REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais indicated that in the first seven months of the year, renewable energy production supplied 74% of electricity consumption. This was composed of hydroelectric power at 32%, wind power at 25%, solar power at 12%, and biomass at 5%. Natural gas production supplied 13% of the consumption, a percentage similar to that of imported energy.
In the natural gas market, cumulative consumption grew by 11% by the end of July, with a 132% increase in the electricity production segment and an 8% decrease in the conventional segment. The latter saw the lowest consumption since 2009.
Nigeria and the United States remained the primary gas suppliers, accounting for 56% and 32% of the total, respectively.
Focusing solely on July, REN’s data showed that electricity consumption in Portugal continued its recent growth trend with an annual variation of 3.8%, or 2.1% when adjusted for temperature effects and the number of working days.
That month, “marked by less favorable conditions for renewable production,” saw solar energy achieving a new daily power output record, surpassing 3,300 MW.
In July, solar production accounted for 17.5% of monthly consumption, nearly matching wind production, which contributed 22%. Renewable production in total supplied 54% of consumption, while non-renewable production covered 17%, and the remaining 29% was met by imports.
In the natural gas market, consumption increased by 17% in July compared to the same month of the previous year, driven by the electricity production segment. In contrast, the conventional segment, encompassing other consumers, registered a 12% annual decrease.
National supply was nearly entirely guaranteed by the Sines liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, with only 3% of supply coming from interconnection with Spain.
