If the question is “can a country sustain itself with renewable energy alone”, the answer is right here: Portugal

Two years ago, Portugal reached 75% renewable electricity thanks to the expansion of hydroelectric, wind and solar energy. However, this new year seems to be closer to that goal on an annual basis.

In short. In a recent report from Ember, Portugal has achieved a milestone by becoming a pioneer in the global energy transition. Before closing this last year, because only 10% of its electricity consumption came from fossil fuels. This represents a record low, with electricity production from gas and other “dirty” sources falling to 5.1 TWh, the lowest figure since 1979.

Additionally, locally generated renewables met 71% of the country’s energy needs, while an additional 20% came from mostly low-carbon imports from Spain.

Reducing emissions. Spain’s neighbor has shown that it is possible to drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuels without compromising energy supply. This achievement has placed the Portuguese country as a pioneer, aligned with other leading countries like Denmark and Chileand projects a future where more than 90% of its energy will be renewable by 2030. In addition, the definitive closure of its last coal plant in 2021 underlines its commitment to this agenda.

Regarding the consumption of gas to generate electricity, it has decreased by almost half from one year to the next, demonstrating the change in the Portuguese energy system. Ultimately, total gas consumption has fallen by 17%, marking its lowest level since 2003.

In data. The International Energy Agency has shown that Portugal has achieved this boom in renewables, thanks to public policies, strategic investments and a focus on the development of clean infrastructure.

In 2024, Portugal’s electricity mix was made up of 28% hydroelectric, closely followed by 27% wind energy, 10% solar, 6% biomass and 20% imports from Spain, which complement each other. .

Imports from Spain. A part of the electricity consumption in Portugal comes from the Spanish electricity networks. This exchange has reinforced the collaboration between both countries in the Iberian Peninsula, where the energy of both nations totals 82% coming from clean sources.

By sharing a well-interconnected electricity grid and prioritizing decarbonization, our neighboring country benefits from a mostly low-carbon import, which reinforces its commitment to a sustainable energy matrix. This cooperation model demonstrates how regional alliances can accelerate the energy transition and guarantee supply stability in a context of high renewable penetration.

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