78.5% of consumption covered in the 1st quarter of 2026

Electricity production from renewable sources covered 78.5% of consumption in mainland Portugal between January and March 2026, indicates the Renewable Electricity Bulletin released by APREN this Monday, April 13.

During this period, there were 571 non-consecutive hours in which renewable generation was sufficient to fully meet electrical demand — the equivalent of around 23 full days.

The report highlights that this performance highlights the maturity and resilience of the national electricity system.

In the market, the average price of electricity was 41.9 euros/MWh in the quarter, positioning Portugal among the most competitive markets in Europe, where most prices exceeded 90 euros/MWh.

APREN also quantifies savings associated with greater use of renewables: around 239 million euros avoided in natural gas imports, 324 million in electricity imports and 166 million in CO₂ emission licenses during the quarter under analysis.

At a European level, Portugal appears as the third country with the highest penetration of renewables in electrical production, behind only Norway and Denmark.

Pedro Amaral Jorge, president of APREN, states, cited in the document, that “the first quarter of 2026 clearly confirms the structural role of renewable energies in the competitiveness of the Iberian electricity system”. He also added that, “in a geopolitical context still marked by volatility… the production of photovoltaic solar energy in the European Union has already avoided 4.8 billion euros in gas imports since the beginning of 2026”.

In March, renewable participation stood at 77.2% of electrical production. Hydroelectricity was the main source (37.1%), followed by wind (25.9%), in a month marked by winter conditions and high water availability.

Still, compared to March 2025, national electrical production fell 7.2%, mainly reflecting lower wind production and a reduced resource for natural gas.

APREN also highlights that, in March alone, 166 non-consecutive hours of total coverage of consumption by renewable sources were recorded, illustrating the growing robustness of the national renewable system.