Over the past year, from November 2024 to October 2025, Portugal's electricity consumption has been heavily reliant on low-carbon energy sources. Impressively, over two-thirds of the electricity has come from clean sources. Hydropower and wind contribute almost half, with hydropower alone making up roughly 27% and wind at about 22%. The remaining low-carbon share includes net imports accounting for close to 17% and solar energy contributing about 14%. On the other hand, fossil-fuel-generated electricity accounts for just over 14%, with gas being the predominant source at around 13% and oil offering a negligible contribution of around 1%. The significant portion of low-carbon energy highlights Portugal's commitment to sustainable electricity generation, although there is room to expand these efforts further to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, ENTSOE, Eurostat, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Portugal?
Regarding the growth of electricity consumption in Portugal, there has been a slight decline compared to the historic record levels. The latest data shows an electricity consumption of 5749 kWh per capita, which is narrowly below the previous record of 5831 kWh per person set in 2016, representing a decline of 82 kWh per person. More concerning is the reduction in low-carbon electricity generation, as the current level stands at 3973 kWh per person, down from a record 4176 kWh per person last year, equating to a decline of 202 kWh per person. These trends suggest that while electricity consumption remains robust, there is an urgent need to accelerate the expansion of low-carbon electricity generation to not only match past records but also surpass them to meet future demands.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Portugal can focus on expanding its existing wind and solar capacities, as these already contribute significantly to the electricity mix. Looking to successful regions around the globe, like Denmark where wind accounts for 49% of electricity, illustrates the potential for Portugal to similarly leverage its own wind resources. Additionally, Portugal should consider diversifying its low-carbon portfolio by integrating nuclear energy as evidenced by strong performers like France, where nuclear contributes 69% of the total electricity, or Slovakia with 67%. By learning from these examples, Portugal can reinforce its infrastructure and policy framework to support an increased share of clean, reliable, and sustainable energy.
History
Historically, Portugal has seen fluctuations in low-carbon electricity, particularly from hydropower, from the late 1970s through recent years. In the early stages, such as 1977, there was a substantial increase in hydropower generation. However, throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the trend witnessed several significant downturns, notably in 1989, 1992, and the early 2000s. Despite this, there were also remarkable growth years, such as in 1996, 2003, and 2010. Recently, the trend continues with sporadic increases and declines, as seen in reductions in 2022, followed by an upswing in 2023. These historical fluctuations indicate a need for Portugal to stabilize and fortify its low-carbon generation capabilities to ensure sustained growth in clean electricity generation.
