Lisbon, Aug. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - Solar power was, for the first time, the main source of electricity generation in Portugal, accounting for 19% of electricity consumption in July, at a time when renewable sources provided 53% of the electricity consumed in the country.
According to figures released on Monday by Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), [the electricity grid manager] hydroelectric power accounted for 16% of renewable consumption in July, followed by wind power at 13% and biomass at 5%.
Non-renewable generation supplied 13% of consumption, whilst the remaining 34% came from imported energy.
Last month, the solar productivity index stood at 0.89, whilst the hydro index reached 1.26 and the wind index 0.71.
In the first seven months of the year, renewable generation accounted for 68% of consumption, broken down as follows: hydroelectric (27%), wind (24%), solar photovoltaic (12%) and biomass (5%).
Over the same period, natural gas-fired generation accounted for 14% of consumption, with the remaining 18% supplied by imported energy.
Between January and July, the hydroelectric generation index stood at 1.19, the wind index at 1.00 and the solar index at 0.83.
Electricity consumption in July continued the upward trend seen throughout the year, rising by 3% year-on-year, or 1.8% after adjusting for temperature and the number of working days.
In the first seven months of 2026, electricity consumption rose by 3.5% compared with the same period last year, or 3.1% after adjusting for temperature and working days.
In the natural gas market, however, consumption fell by 7.3% year-on-year in July, reflecting a 20% reduction in the electricity generation sector.
In the conventional segment, which encompasses all other consumers, there was a year-on-year increase of 0.1%.
During July, the Sines LNG terminal supplied the entire national system, with around two-thirds of the imported gas originating from Nigeria and the remainder from the United States.
In the period from January to July, natural gas consumption rose by 4.1%, driven by a 14% increase in the electricity generation sector and a 0.3% increase in the conventional sector.
Nigeria and the United States remained the main sources of natural gas consumed in Portugal, accounting for 53% and 33% of the total, respectively.
PYR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
