Portugal witnessed a remarkable surge in renewable energy utilization throughout January, with renewable sources accounting for an impressive 81% of the nation's electricity consumption, as reported by Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN), the national grid operator.
Hydropower emerged as the primary contributor, supplying 47% of the country's power requirements, closely followed by wind parks at 25%. Biomass and solar photovoltaic (PV) plants contributed 5% and 4% respectively, underlining the diversified portfolio of renewable sources.
January 16 marked a significant milestone as wind farms in Portugal achieved a new pinnacle, generating a record-breaking 4,917 MW of power, surpassing prior daily records.
Despite this surge in renewable energy, natural gas power stations still played a notable role, meeting 14% of the nation's overall electricity consumption, while imports constituted the remaining 5%.
REN highlighted that Portugal's total electricity consumption experienced a modest year-on-year increase of 1.6% in January. Adjusting for temperature and working days, the rise stood at 3%, indicating a steady demand amidst the transition towards renewable energy sources.
