Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), the grid operator in Portugal, says that renewables covered 91% of national electricity demand in March. This marks the third consecutive month in which clean energy has exceeded 80% of total power demand.
April 2, 2024 Pilar Sánchez Molina
Image: Voltalia
Renewable energy covered 91% of total electricity demand in Portugal in March, according to data from the country’s grid operator, REN.
Hydroelectric energy had the largest share at 47%, followed by wind at 31%, solar at 6%, and biomass at 5%. Natural gas production accounted for the remaining share.
It is the third consecutive month that renewables exceeded 80% of total national demand, following 88% in February and 81% in January. In the first three months of this year, renewables production accounted for 89% of demand – the highest figure for the first quarter since 1978.
In 2023, renewable energy was responsible for 61% of electricity consumption in Portugal, with a total of 31.2 TWh – the highest figure ever reached in the national system. In October, Portugal’s mix was 100% renewable for an entire weekend.
In March, electricity consumption grew by 1.6% year on year, or 2.9%, if the impact of temperature and the number of working days are considered.
The natural gas market recorded a year-on-year drop of 5.8% in March. This was due to the behavior of the electricity production segment, which fell 24% year on year due to the high availability of renewable energy.
Portugal’s updated energy strategy aims for 80% of electricity in the country to be renewable by 2026, and 85% by 2030. The revised plan sets a target of 20.4 GW of operational PV systems in 2030, with 14.9 GW for utility-scale plants and 5.5 GW for distributed generation.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : PV-Magazine – https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/02/portuguese-utility-says-renewables-covered-91-of-demand-in-march/