Portugal Achieves Record-Breaking Renewable Energy Consumption in 2023
According to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), Portugal’s national grid operator, renewables accounted for 61% of electricity consumption last year, marking the highest percentage ever recorded in the country’s energy system.
In 2023, renewable energy production in Portugal reached 31.2TWh, with wind energy leading the way by supplying 25% of the country’s total consumption. Hydropower followed closely at 23%, while solar photovoltaic (PV) contributed 7% and biomass accounted for 6%.
Notably, solar PV’s annual production increased by an impressive 43% compared to the previous year, generating approximately 3.58TWh of electricity.
Portugal is actively expanding its solar capacity and has set ambitious targets in its updated national energy and climate plan (NECP). By 2030, the country aims to have an installed solar PV capacity of 20.4GW. Of this target, 14.9GW is expected to come from utility-scale projects, while the remaining 5.5GW will be derived from self-consumption solar or near-site consumption (decentralized solar).
This new target more than doubles the previous national plan, which aimed for 9GW of solar PV capacity by 2030.
Permitting issues have been identified as one of the main barriers in the Portuguese solar PV market. To address this, the country has implemented regulatory improvements, including less stringent environmental assessments for projects up to 100 hectares in size. These changes aim to accelerate the deployment of solar PV and have been discussed during events such as the Large Scale Solar Europe event held last year.
Portugal’s remarkable progress in renewable energy consumption and its commitment to expanding solar PV capacity demonstrate the country’s dedication to a sustainable and clean energy future.
