Renewable energy sources supplied 103.6% of Portugal’s electricity consumption in March, something that has never happened before.
The Portuguese Association of Renewable Energies and eco-association ZERO are delighted to report that the data from National Energy Networks (REN) shows renewable electricity produced in March was 4,812 GWh, thus exceeding the electricity consumption of the nation, which was 4,647 GWh.
Due to fluctuations in supply and demand, there were some periods when fossil fuel power plants kicked in to top-up supplies but these were fully counterbalanced by periods of high generation of renewable.
These variations peaked at 143% of consumption on March 11th and dropped to a low of 86% on March 7th.
There was a 70-hour period, starting on the 9th, when consumption was fully covered by renewable energy sources and another period of 69 hours, beginning on March 12th.
These results, besides being a milestone, demonstrate the technical viability, safety and reliability of the national grid when supplied with high levels of renewable energy.
Water and wind power accounting for 55% and 42% of consumption needs and March’s production of renewables prevented the emission of 1.8 million tons of CO2, saving €21 million in emission allowance purchases.
This high renewables percentage had a positive influence on the average daily market price of €39.75 per MWh. This price is lower than the same period last year (€43.94 per MWh) when the percentage of renewables was 62%.
March’s record period for renewable energy "is an example of what will happen more frequently in the near future with a 2040 target of 100% of Portugal’s energy needs coming from renewable sources, with the proviso that natural gas power stations will be needed as back up unless large scale storage solutions have been developed," stated Zero.
The Portuguese Association of Renewable Energies and ZERO said that “it is vital that national public policies and the European ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ framework that is being decided on, should enable Portugal to meet its carbon neutrality objectives by 2050, ensuring a strong expansion of solar energy and ensuring decarbonisation through increasing demand for electricity in the transport sector and in the heating and cooling sector.”
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Meanwhile, the government continues to facilitate the development of a hydrocarbon industry despite public opposition, flawed financial analyses and projections.
Aspiring to little more than the continuation of a cosy relationship with oil companies, the administration is aiding and abetting the Galp ENI consortium that soon will be drilling test wells close to the unblemished Alentejano coastline off Aljezur. Onshore fracking will follow soon afterwards unless the government changes its policy which, currently, flies in the face of international CO2 reduction agreements.
