Renewable production supplied 61% of electricity consumption in Portugal in 2023, for a total of 31,2 Terawatt-hours (TWh), the highest value ever in the national system, according to REN data released today.
According to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), wind energy supplied 25% of consumption, hydroelectric 23%, photovoltaic 7% and biomass 6%.
There was also a 70% year-on-year growth in hydroelectric production, given the particularly dry year that had occurred in 2022, as well as a 43% growth in photovoltaic production, due to the progressive increase in installed capacity.
Non-renewable production supplied only 19% of consumption, totaling 10 TWh, the lowest value since 1988.
«This is due not only to the greater availability of renewable energy, but also to the high import balance, which supplied 20% of consumption, which is the highest value ever and its largest share in supplying consumption since 1981», pointed out REN.
Electricity consumption supplied from the public grid in 2023 reached 50,7 TWh, an increase of 0,8% compared to the previous year, being the highest consumption since 2018, remaining around 3% of the historical maximum recorded in the national system, in 2010.
In December, consumption recorded strong growth of 6,9% or 5,6%, correcting for the effects of temperature and working days, with renewable production supplying 73% of that consumption and non-renewable production 11%, while remaining 16% corresponded to the import balance.
With regard to natural gas, in 2023, global consumption was the lowest since 2014, reaching 49 TWh, which represents a decrease of 21% compared to the previous year, resulting from a 42% reduction in the gas production segment. electrical energy and a 3% decrease in the conventional segment.
The supply of the national system in 2023 was mainly done from the Sines terminal, with 95% of the total natural gas entering Portugal, the remaining 5% being received through interconnection with Spain.
The gas discharged in Sines originated mainly in Nigeria and the United States, which represented, respectively, 42% and 40% of national supply.
In December, gas consumption maintained the downward trend that had been recorded throughout the year, with an overall year-on-year decrease of 11,5%, with a 51% drop in the electricity market, partially offset by a 10% growth in the conventional segment.
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