Renewable energy supplies 63% of electricity in the first five months of the year

Electricity consumption decreased by 1.9% in May compared to the same period last year, or 2.4% when adjusted for temperature and working days. By the end of May, the accumulated annual consumption showed a 0.2% decrease compared to the previous year (the same value when adjusted for temperature and working days).

In May, the hydroelectric regime remained particularly dry, with a productivity index of 0.28 (historical average of 1), the lowest since 1992. On the other hand, wind and solar power were more favorable, with respective productivity indexes of 1.14 and 1.09. Under these conditions, renewable energy sources accounted for 49% of the consumption, non-renewable sources accounted for 17%, while the remaining 34% corresponded to imported energy.

In the first five months of the year, the hydroelectric productivity index was 0.76, the wind power productivity index was 0.94, and the solar power productivity index was 1.17. During this period, renewable energy sources accounted for 63% of the consumption, with wind power supplying 26%, hydroelectric power supplying 25%, solar power supplying 7%, and biomass supplying 6%. Natural gas production accounted for 18% of the consumption, with the remaining 19% corresponding to imports. This value is the highest ever recorded in the national electricity system for this period of the year.

As for the natural gas market, there was a 25% contraction in May, resulting from a slight 1.2% decline in the conventional market and a 53% decline in the electricity production segment, mainly due to imported electricity. The supply was entirely made from the Sines LNG terminal, while exports continued through the interconnection with Spain, totaling 1561 GWh, which becomes the highest monthly export ever recorded.

From January to May, the accumulated annual natural gas consumption contracted, with a negative evolution of 22%, resulting from a 4.6% decline in the conventional segment and a 44% decline in the electricity market. This represents the lowest consumption for this period since 2016.