Renewable

January 4 (Renewables Now) - Non-hydro renewable sources generated 29.5% of Portugal's electricity in 2018, data from the Portuguese power utility Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN) shows.

Wind power had the largest contribution (23%), followed by biomass (5%) and photovoltaic (PV) sources (1.5%). Taking into account hydro sources, the renewable power generation made up 52% of the total.

Natural gas accounted for 27% and coal for 21%. The overall consumption of electricity totalled 50.9 TWh, a 2.5% increase year-on-year, or 1.7% when accounting for the effects of temperature and the number of working days.

According to REN, the balance of trade favoured exports for the third year in a row, amounting to some 5% of domestic consumption. In December alone, renewable production supplied 56% of domestic consumption, the utility noted.