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Renewables meet 75% of Portugal’s electricity needs in first eight months of 2024

A Portuguese tile pattern that includes wind turbines, which deliver clean energy.
Graphic: Sean Creighton/The Progress Playbook

Domestic renewable energy facilities covered 75% of Portugal’s electricity needs in the first eight months of 2024, data from the grid operator shows.

Hydropower accounted for 33% of the mix, wind 26%, solar 10%, and biomass for 6%. Fossil gas held an 8% share, while the remaining 17% came from Spain, which also sources the majority of its power from renewables.

The rising share of domestic and imported renewables in the mix — Portuguese solar facilities comprised 15% of the mix in both July and August — is squeezing out gas.

Gas-fired power production was down 68% in the first eight months of 2024, compared with the same period a year before.

That’s helped keep Portugal’s wholesale electricity prices well below the European average, according to data collated by Ember.

Here’s how Portugal got to this point.

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