Renewable sources of energy covered 59% of electricity consumption in Portugal in 2020, according to data released by REN - National Energy Networks.
According to the company entrusted with the global management of the national electricity and natural gas systems, hydroelectric and wind sources were largely responsible for this performance, each accounting for around 25%. In turn, biomass accounted for 7% of the electricity consumed in our country last year, while photovoltaic production registered 2.6%.
These results reflect an increase in the weight of renewable sources in Portugal compared to the previous year. In 2019, renewable production supplied 51% of national electricity consumption, with wind power accounting for 27%, the highest ever share registered by this technology, hydroelectric power 17%, biomass 5.5% and photovoltaic energy 2.1%.
Moreover, REN reveals that non-renewable production supplied 38% of electricity consumption in 2020, mainly due to natural gas, while coal accounted for less than 4% of consumption. The remaining 3% comprised the balance of exchanges with foreign countries.
BETTER PERFORMANCE IN LATE 2020
According to REN, the hydroelectric productivity index stood at 0.97 at the end of 2020 (historical average of 1), while the wind productivity index registered 0.94 (historical average of 1). Considering the month of December of last year alone, the hydroelectric productivity index “remained close to the average rate”, registering 0.95 (historical average of 1). With regard to wind production, “conditions were more favourable”, with the respective index registering 1.15 (historical average of 1).
REN also draws attention to the remarkable results achieved in December 2020, when renewable production guaranteed 72% of domestic electricity consumption, non-renewable energy supplied 26% and the balance of exchanges with foreign countries accounted for the remaining 2%.
FUNDAMENTAL STEPS ON THE PATH TO DECARBONISATION
As far as Pedro Amaral Jorge, president of the Portuguese Association of Renewable Energies (APREN) is concerned, “2020 was undoubtedly a year of significant activity and numerous strategies with regard to the promotion of renewable energy as the main path towards the decarbonisation of the economy”. The APREN official stresses that “this work has not been in vain: the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) expects 2020 to be the third warmest year since records began”. “Statistical data illustrates an inverse correlation between socio-economic growth and development and greenhouse gas emissions. As such, we all need to turn words into action and meet the goals set for 2030 and 2050 as quickly and efficiently as possible”, warns Pedro Amaral Jorge.
This point of view is shared by Francisco Ferreira, president of ZERO – Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System, who underlines that “2020 was a remarkable year for the transition that will be consummated in 2021, the year in which an era comes to an end, when one of the most determining fossil fuels on a global scale, coal, will cease to be used to produce electricity in Portugal”. “It is therefore of paramount importance that we invest, in a sustainable manner as possible, in reducing energy consumption, thereby ensuring greater efficiency, and in renewable sources of energy, thereby guaranteeing more new jobs and effective decarbonisation”, concludes Francisco Ferreira.
DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN 2020 REGISTERS THE LOWEST FIGURES SINCE 2005
Also according to REN, electricity consumption in Portugal in 2020 registered the lowest figures since 2005, 48,800 GWh, a fall of 3.1% compared to 2019, or 3.7% when taking temperature corrections and working days into account. However, the company points out, energy consumption showed an upward trend in December, with a year-on-year variation of 1.4%, “influenced by the lower temperatures we were subjected to in 2020”.