The figures for renewable energies in Portugal improve considerably from year to year. In 2019, 51% of the energy consumed in the country was from renewable sources and, therefore, for the first time the consumption of renewable energies surpassed that of non-renewables, which constituted 42.3% of the total consumed. The remaining 6.7% represents imported energy consumption.

In 2022, Portugal saw a significant increase in renewable energy production. According to Portuguese government data, the country achieved a renewable energy production rate of nearly 70% during the year, far surpassing its 2020 target of 31%.

One of the main reasons for this increase was the expansion of wind energy production. Portugal is one of the leaders in the European Union in wind energy production, and in 2022 saw a 20% increase in energy production from wind sources. Another important source of renewable energy in Portugal is solar energy. The country has seen a steady increase in solar energy production in recent years, and in 2022 solar energy production reached a new record, with more than 10% of the country's total energy production coming from renewable sources. In addition to wind and solar, Portugal also produced significant amounts of hydropower and biomass in 2022.

As a result of these efforts, Portugal has achieved a significant reduction in its dependence on fossil fuels. In 2020, fossil fuels accounted for approximately 50% of the country's energy production, but by 2022 that percentage has declined to less than 30%. This drop not only benefited the environment, but also helped lower energy costs for Portuguese consumers.

In short, 2022 was an exceptional year for renewable energies in Portugal. With a significant increase in wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass production, the country reached a new record of renewable energy production and significantly reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

The future of renewable energies in Portugal looks very promising. The country has ambitious targets to increase its energy production from renewable sources by 2030. Currently, renewable energies represent around 60% of total energy production in Portugal, but the target is to increase this percentage to 70% by 2030 , which should be brought forward by five years.

Source: APREN