Portugal’s renewable generation covered 64% of national electricity consumption in the first nine months of 2026, according to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN).

Hydropower accounted for 24% of consumption, wind for 23%, solar PV for 13% and biomass for 5%.

At the same time, electricity consumption reached 40.5 TWh between January and September, the highest level ever recorded on the national grid for this period. The figure was 3.4% higher than the previous record set in 2025, or 2.9% higher after adjusting for temperature and working days.

Natural gas-fired generation covered 14% of electricity consumption, while the remaining 22% came from imported electricity, representing the highest import balance ever recorded for the January-September period.

Over the same period, the hydroelectric productivity index stood at 1.21, the wind productivity index at 0.97 and the solar productivity index at 0.82, compared with a historical average of 1.

Renewables supplied 52% of electricity consumption in September

In September alone, renewable generation covered 52% of national electricity consumption, while non-renewable generation accounted for 13% and imported electricity for the remaining 35%.

Electricity consumption rose by 6.8% year-on-year during the month, or 3.3% after adjusting for temperature and working days. REN linked the increase to the high temperatures recorded in September.

The solar productivity index stood at 0.96, the wind index at 0.88 and the hydro index at 1.39.

Natural gas demand falls in September

Natural gas consumption declined by 12% in September, with a 15% fall in the power generation segment and a 10% decline in the conventional market.

Between January and September, natural gas consumption totalled 33.2 TWh, up 0.5% year-on-year. Demand in the power generation segment increased by 4.5%, while consumption in the conventional market fell by 1.2%.

In September, Portugal’s gas supply came entirely through the Sines LNG terminal, while the interconnection with Spain recorded a net export equivalent to 62% of national consumption.

Over the first nine months of the year, the Portuguese system was supplied almost entirely through Sines. Gas originated mainly from Nigeria, with a 58% share, followed by US, with 34%, and Russia, with 8%. REN also reported that the net export balance through the interconnection with Spain was the highest ever recorded for this period.