According to the latest data from REN – Redes Energéticas Nacionais, the electrical system set new historical records in renewables this Sunday, November 24, with wind energy production reaching 110.4 GWh and hydroelectric pumping reaching 41. 7 GWh.
With regard to wind energy production, due to the strong and constant wind throughout the day, the total of 110.4 GWh surpassed the previous record of 108.0 GWh, recorded on October 17, 2023.
Wind energy produced last Sunday represented 86% of national consumption. This year, the accumulated production of this renewable energy represents 27% of national consumption, while solar energy contributed around 10%.
Furthermore, the high availability of renewable energy sources in both Portugal and Spain further led to the highest-ever pumped hydro use in Portugal on the same day, with a total of 41.7 GWh. This value is 24% higher than the previous record of 33.7 GWh, recorded on May 1, 2024.
The new hydroelectric pumping record demonstrates the ability of the National Electric System to adapt to the greater availability of renewable energy in the Iberian Peninsula.
Between January and October, renewable energy supplied 72% of electricity consumption in Portugal. During this period, hydroelectric energy was responsible for supplying 30% of consumption, wind energy for 26%, photovoltaic energy for 10% and biomass for 6%. Natural gas production supplied 9% of consumption, while the remaining 19% corresponded to imported energy.
Compared to the first 10 months of 2023, there was an increase in electricity consumption of 1.9%, or 2.3%, correcting for temperature and working days. Note that, until the end of October, natural gas consumption recorded an annual drop of 21%, with a 66% drop in the electricity production segment and 3% growth in the conventional segment. Overall, for this period, this is the lowest gas consumption since 2004.
In October, renewable production supplied 68% of consumption, non-renewable production 10%, while the remaining 22% corresponded to imported energy. In October, conditions were particularly favorable for hydroelectric and wind production, with producibility indices at 1.76 and 1.27, respectively (historical average of 1).
In the case of photovoltaics, the producibility index did not exceed 0.77 (historical average of 1), which is the lowest index in REN records for the month of October since 2010. This month, there was an increase in energy consumption electricity, with an annual variation of 3.1%, or 1.8% correcting for the effects of temperature and number of working days.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
