Over the past year, from September 2024 to August 2025, Portugal has been significantly reliant on low-carbon electricity sources, with more than three-quarters of its electricity generated from clean energy. Specifically, hydropower and wind, two dominant forms of low-carbon energy, contribute close to 39% and 23% respectively. Solar power adds nearly 10%, and biofuels round out the low-carbon mix. In contrast, electricity generated from fossil fuels like gas accounts for approximately 12%, marking a noteworthy but smaller portion of Portugal's energy mix compared to cleaner sources. Meanwhile, net imports play a role, constituting about 11% of the total electricity supply, which signifies a balanced composition in terms of energy diversity but also highlights room for improvement in domestic low-carbon electricity generation.
Is Electricity Growing in Portugal?
Electricity consumption in Portugal is currently observed to be slightly lower than historical peaks. The latest available data shows that the average electricity consumption per person is 5648 kWh, which is a decrease of 183 kWh from the record figure of 2016. However, there's an encouraging upward trend in low-carbon electricity generation per person, having increased by 546 kWh from the previous record set in 2024. This showcases a positive directional growth in clean electricity production, a crucial factor in mitigating climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Although overall electricity consumption has not surpassed previous records, the progress in low-carbon electricity is promising and demonstrates Portugal's commitment to sustainable growth.
Suggestions
To further enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Portugal could focus on expanding its wind energy capacity, which is already a vital component of its energy mix. Learning from regions like Denmark and states such as Iowa and South Dakota, where wind contributes over 55% of their electricity, Portugal could significantly boost its clean electricity share by adopting similar strategies. Additionally, expanding solar energy generation by drawing inspiration from countries like Lebanon and Greece, which efficiently harness solar power for more than a quarter of their electricity, would align with Portugal's geographic advantages and sunny climate. Moreover, adopting lessons from nuclear-rich countries like France could offer insights into integrating nuclear energy as a cornerstone of clean electricity, ensuring reliability and energy security.
History
Historically, Portugal's low-carbon electricity journey has experienced fluctuations, notably in hydropower generation. After initial substantial increases in the late 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s saw varying patterns, with years of growth followed by significant declines, such as in 1989 and 1999. The first decade of the 21st century witnessed similar volatility, particularly dramatic in 2003 with the most significant positive shift. The recent decade has seen more stability, yet with occasional dips. Especially since 2022, hydropower has seen gradual increases, peaking with the highest recorded growth in 2025, highlighting the recent constructive trend. These developments underline the importance of enhancing and stabilizing clean electricity sources to meet growing demands and counterbalance the past inconsistencies. The ongoing commitment to clean energy growth is key in shaping Portugal's sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.