Portugal’s record in the field of renewable energies

Portugal is the first country in the European Union member who is able to meet its energy needs for several days exclusively with renewable energy. Wind power, hydro and solar have been sufficient to guarantee 107 hours of autonomy, from 6:45 am on Saturday 7 May at 17:45 up to Wednesday, May 11th.

The analysis of data provided by the government has certified the result achieved, as stated in the article published on the Portuguese NGO Zero site. According to experts, good management and favorable weather conditions have helped the country to benefit from recent investments in wind and hydropower.

At the beginning of this century, less than 1% of the Portuguese energy demand was met by renewable. In 2012 it has risen to an average annual rate of 20%, although it must be said that this is not only due to investments but also to the decline in demand, probably linked to a de-industrialization due to the economic crisis.
The current data show that on average 16% of the energy consumed in Europe is produced from renewable energies. The continent has pledged to reach 20% by 2020.