Electricity imports hit record

 In Energy, News

Portugal’s electricity imports hit a new record in May with 4,402 GWh on the previous record of 4,203 GWh in May 2008, according to power grid operator REN.

Hydroelectric power production for the period (dams) fell to 0.35, well below the historical average which according to news agency Lusa is equal to 1, the wind power producibility index was also 0.95 (historical average equal to 1). However, solar power achieved higher than historical averages with 1.06.
REN states: “Despite the very low hydroelectric value, renewable production supplied 49% of electricity consumption between January and May, split between wind with 26% hydro with 12% biomass with 7% and photovoltaic with 5%. Natural gas supplied 30% of consumption, with the remaining 21% corresponding to the import balance”.
In other words, May saw REN having to import 22% of the grid’s energy. “Only photovoltaic displayed above average values, registering 1.05 (historical average equal to 1),” notes REN, adding that, “In May, renewable production supplied 45% of consumption, non-renewable 33%, while the renaming 22% corresponded to imported energy”.
The natural gas market grew by 3.2% in May “resulting from a 22% drop in the conventional market, offset by the rise in the electricity production segment, which recorded a year-on-year increase of around 70%.
According to REN and reported by Lusa “supply is entirely from the Sines LNG (liquified natural gas) terminal, with exports remaining via the interconnection with Spain, which represented around 16% of national consumption this month”.