Lisbon, May 18, 2026 (Lusa) - Renewable energy sources accounted for 77% of the electricity generated in mainland Portugal in April, when solar photovoltaic output reached its highest level in 2026, according to the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN).
Data from the April 2026 renewable electricity bulletin revealed that 2,506 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity were generated during the month, out of a total production of 3,546 GWh.
The figures recorded up to April place Portugal as the third European country with the highest share of renewables in electricity generation, behind only Norway and Denmark, according to the association.
In April, hydroelectric power remained the main source of electricity generation, accounting for 25.7% of total generation, followed by wind power at 22% and solar photovoltaic at 16.4%.
According to APREN, this was the highest figure for solar technology in 2026, underscoring the growing importance of solar technology and the structural transformation of the national electricity mix.
In April, Portugal also recorded 87 non-consecutive hours when renewable sources entirely covered electricity consumption.
This figure stands at 658 hours so far this year.
The association said that Portugal's renewable performance continues to influence electricity prices.
In April, the average price on the Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL) in Portugal stood at €40.3 per megawatt-hour (MWh), whilst the average price between January and April was €42/MWh, representing a 40.2% reduction compared with the same period in 2025. From an economic and environmental perspective, APREN estimated that between January and April, the contribution of renewables prevented approximately €334 million in natural gas imports, €338 million in electricity imports, and €225 million in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission allowance costs.
Susana Serôdio, APREN's Market Intelligence and Policy Coordinator, said that “the April figures show that Portugal continues to establish itself as one of the European countries with the highest share of renewables in the electricity sector, and the fact that the Iberian market continues to offer some of the most competitive electricity prices in Europe highlights that investment in renewable energy is a factor in the country’s economic competitiveness”. SCR/MYAL // ADB.
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