With a record production of 36.7 TWh, the highest value ever in the national electricity system, renewables supplied 71% of national electricity consumption last year, the second-highest consumption year ever, according to REN data.

In terms of energy consumption in the national electrical system, last year was the second year with the highest consumption ever, surpassed only, by around 2%, by the historical maximum reached in 2010. “Last year, consumption of electricity supplied from the public network totalled 51.4 TWh, with growth of 1.3% compared to the previous year (2.0% considering the correction for temperature effects and number of working days)”, says REN, in a statement sent to newsrooms.

A consumption that, for the most part, was ensured by the production of renewable energy, resulting from the “growth of renewable installations and the overall favourable conditions observed”, points out the regulator.

“Despite the end of the year with lower water production, the hydroelectric producibility index was 1.16 (historical average of 1)”, says Aneel. In wind, it registered an annual index of 1.06 (historical average of 1), in solar an index of 0.94 (historical average of 1).

“Hydroelectric and wind power plants had similar weights in the supply of the national system, with 28% and 27%, respectively, while photovoltaic plants were close to 10% and biomass 6%”, details Aneel. The regulator highlights the year-on-year growth of 24% in hydroelectric production and 37% in photovoltaic production, “which had the highest share of all time in national consumption, due to the strong expansion of this technology in the national electrical system”, he emphasises.

Non-renewable production, “practically all natural gas”, totaled 5.1 TWh, “the lowest value since 1979 (at the time with non-renewable production essentially using fuel oil), this year representing only 10% of consumption”, refers to REN.

“Natural gas production has reduced its penetration, both due to the growing availability of renewable energy, but also due to the import balance, which in 2024 totaled 10.5 TWh, the highest ever in the national electricity system, and which allowed 20% to be supplied. of national consumption”, he also points out.

In December, consumption fell 1.4% compared to December 2023, “although with correction for the effects of temperature and working days, there is a slight growth of 0.2%”, says REN.

In the natural gas market, consumption in the past totaled 40.5 TWh, an annual drop of 17%, the lowest annual consumption since 2003.

“If the electricity generation segment maintained the downward trend of recent years, with a strong contraction of 56%, in the conventional segment, which covers other consumers, there was year-on-year growth of 2%, the first positive record after four years consecutive periods of falling consumption”, says the regulator.

The supply of the national system in 2024 was made almost entirely from the Sines LNG terminal — originating mainly in Nigeria and the United States, which represented, respectively, 53% and 41% of national supply — while through interconnection with the Spain entries were residual.