Energy in Portugal
Energy in Portugal describes [World World energy resources and consumption|energy resources and consumption|energy] and electricity production, consumption and import in Portugal. Energy policy of Portugal will describe the politics of Portugal related to energy more in detail. Electricity sector in Portugal is the main article of electricity in Portugal.
In 2000, 85% of energy was imported, while in 2021 the last coal fired power station closed and renewable energy was expanded to fill the gap. In 2023 Portugal was responsible for around 1% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. Portugal's aim by 2030 is to cover 80% of its electricity consumption with renewable sources. Portugal has committed to carbon neutrality and net zero by 2050.
Energy statistics
Energy plansPortugal aims to be climate neutral by 2050 and to cover 80% of its electricity consumption with renewables by 2030. Portugal has also developed a hydrogen strategy to decrease natural gas imports and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.Energy sourcesFossil fuelsCoalSines power plant started operation in 1985–1989 in Portugal. According to WWF its emissions were among the top dirty ones in Portugal in 2007. That coal power plant went offline in January 2021, with the one remaining coal power plant in the country, closing at 7h15 on the 19th of November 2021.Natural gasMaghreb–Europe Gas Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline, from Algeria through Morocco to Andalusia, Spain.Portugal has the Sines LNG import terminal to facilitate gas imports. There are three LNG storage tanks with a total capacity of 390,000 cbm and a regasification capacity of 5.6 mtpa. In 2021 Portugal imported 2.8 billion cubic meters of LNG from Nigeria, being almost 50% of the country's gas imports for the year. Renewable energy
Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources. Energy from renewable sources has been increasing in Portugal since 2000 and has been given a boost with the 2030 renewable energy target. Solar powerPortugal has supported and increased the solar electricity and solar thermal energy during 2006–2010. Portugal was 9th in solar heating in the EU and 8th in solar power based on total volume in 2010.The largest solar farm in Europe is being built in Santiago do Cacém near Sines, creating up to 2,500 jobs, mostly local, it will be completed in 2025 and have a generating capacity of 1.2 GW. Wind powerWind energy capacity in Portugal is over 5,000 MW from onshore wind farms. In 2023, plans for the first floating offshore wind farm were announced.BiomassBiomass provides around 8% of electricity generation capacity.Hydro powerPortugal has also been using water power to generate power for the country. In the 2010s, a local company, Wave Roller installed many devices along the coast to make use of the water power.In 2021, 36% of Portugal’s total installed power generation capacity and 23% of total power generation came from hydro power. Drought can seriously reduce hydro energy generation in the summer months. Nuclear powerPortugal does not produce any electricity from nuclear sources.TransportThe sustainable strategy has been a shift from individual to collective transport within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. |