Solar power was, for the first time, the main source of electricity generation in Portugal, dominating supply in July.
According to data released by Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), renewable energy sources accounted for 53 per cent of electricity consumption in the seventh month of the year. Photovoltaic generation made up 19 per cent of the mix, ahead of hydropower (16 per cent), wind (13 per cent) and biomass (five per cent).
REN specifies that the peak of solar production in Portugal was reached on 29 June at 1.30pm, with a record value of around 3,800 megawatts (MW).
Clean energy sources continue to play a dominant role in the country. In the first seven months of 2026 they supplied 68 per cent of consumption,although over this longer period solar photovoltaic (12 per cent) loses ground to hydropower (27 per cent), which tops the ranking, followed by wind (24 per cent). Biomass once again accounted for five per cent of electricity generation in the year to date.
In July, both solar (89 per cent) and wind (71 per cent) were below their historical average productivity, with index values lower than that of hydropower (126 per cent).
Non-renewable generation supplied 13 per cent of the electricity system in July, with the remaining 34 per cent imported from Spain.
Electricity consumption rose by three per cent last month and was up 3.5 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
From January to July this year, natural gas consumption increased by 4.1 per cent.
Nigeria and the United States remain the main source markets for the natural gas consumed in Portugal, accounting for 53 per cent and 33 per cent of the total respectively.
This text was translated with the help of artificial intelligence. Report a problem : [feedback-articles-en@euronews.com].
