In a surprising turn of events, Portugal has emerged as a powerhouse in the clean energy game, leaving its neighbors in the dust. The country has managed to slash electricity production from fossil fuels to just 10% in 2024, leaving Spanish power production struggling to keep up.
Clean electricity generation has soared to a record 21.76 terawatt hours in the first seven months of 2024, marking a remarkable 32% increase from the same period in 2023. Thanks to solar and wind farms cranking out power, along with the highest hydro generation total since 2016, natural gas-fired electricity output dropped a whopping 60% from January to July 2023.
This incredible progress has been achieved through the deployment of some of the largest new hydro dams and solar parks in Europe. The Tamega dam with a capacity of 1,158 megawatts and the 202 megawatts Cerca solar farm have played a critical role, allowing Portugal to significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
The results are indeed impressive – total fossil-fuel-generated electricity dropped to a mere 2.53 terawatt hours, a remarkable 59% less than the same period in 2023. The country’s power sector emissions also took a nosedive, slumping by 45% compared to 2023, resulting in a record of 2.12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the first seven months.
Hydro generation has also seen a remarkable boost, with pumped storage output increasing by 67% and run-of-river generation climbing 70%. Reservoir-based hydro generation surged by 76%. As a result, hydropower’s share in the electricity generation mix averaged 35.3% so far in 2024.
Portugal’s solar and wind assets have also been pulling their weight. Solar power generated an average share of 13.3% of Portugal’s electricity so far this year, up from 10.6% in 2023, while wind farms accounted for an average share of 33.1%, up from 32.6% in January-July 2023.
And the good news doesn’t end there. The Portuguese government has set its sights on becoming carbon neutral by 2045. As part of that goal, they plan to have renewables generate 51% of the country’s final energy needs by 2030.
To achieve this ambitious target, innovative renewable energy projects are underway. The Alqueva floating solar park, an award-winning project, integrates hydro power, floating solar, and battery storage, generating 7.5 gigawatt hours of clean energy annually. Meanwhile, a planned 274 megawatt capacity wind farm will be integrated into the Tamega dam project, generating enough power for 128,000 homes.
In addition, Portugal’s solar capacity is expected to expand further, with a project underway to identify optimal solar farm sites and plans to explore offshore wind site suitability. These new developments signal the country’s eagerness to climb even higher on the list of Europe’s clean power champions, establishing itself as a global energy transition leader.
In conclusion, Portugal’s impressive strides in clean energy are a testament to the country’s enthusiasm for embracing renewables. This sets an example for others, demonstrating that commitment and innovation can pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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