2022
IN NUMBERS
The year 2022 stood out positively for the increase, by around 68%, in renewable production from solar energy, resulting from a significant increase in the installed capacity.
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RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
IN PORTUGAL
The growth of the renewable electricity sector in recent years has played a key role in the decarbonisation of the economy in Portugal, and today it is the sector that contributes most to reducing energy dependency.
APREN
MEMBERS
In 2022, the APREN Member’s portfolio totalled 183 companies from the most varied areas of activity, representing a 113% increase compared to the number recorded in 2018.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
POWER PLANS
Large Hydro
Hydroelectric energy is obtained from the kinetic energy of a mass of water that is converted into mechanical energy (by the rotation of an axis) through hydraulic turbines, which in turn drive alternators that generate electricity, as in hydroelectric power plants.
Generally, hydroelectric plants are classified as run-of-river power stations or power stations with regularization. Run-of-river power stations are characterized by limited storage capacity and flow regulation. The plants with regularization have storage capacity and can regulate, up to certain limits, the water flows.
This type of energy use of river water has become, since the beginning of the 20th century, one of the privileged ways of producing electricity. In fact, in the 1950s and 1960s, in Portugal, almost all consumption was provided by hydroelectric power stations, using only thermal power stations to support in periods of drought.
Generally, hydroelectric plants are classified as run-of-river power stations or power stations with regularization. Run-of-river power stations are characterized by limited storage capacity and flow regulation. The plants with regularization have storage capacity and can regulate, up to certain limits, the water flows.
This type of energy use of river water has become, since the beginning of the 20th century, one of the privileged ways of producing electricity. In fact, in the 1950s and 1960s, in Portugal, almost all consumption was provided by hydroelectric power stations, using only thermal power stations to support in periods of drought.
Wind
Wind energy, or wind, is caused by pressure differences across the Earth’s surface, due to the solar radiation received on Earth being greater in the equatorial zones than in the polar zones. Wind has had multiple uses over time, such as milling grain, lifting water in wells and as a propelling force for sailing boats.
Currently, wind energy is seen as one of the most promising renewable energy sources, being characterized as a mature technology that can contribute to the security of energy supply and sustainability of the electrical system.
In Portugal, there are many suitable locations for the use of wind energy throughout the territory, both in coastal areas that take advantage of the coastal winds, which blow more at the end of the day and in some summer months, as well as in the mountainous areas of the interior where the winds have continental characteristics and are more intense in winter. Generally, in all these places, wind speeds are very often above 5 m/s, a value at which wind turbines generally start producing electricity.
Currently, wind energy is seen as one of the most promising renewable energy sources, being characterized as a mature technology that can contribute to the security of energy supply and sustainability of the electrical system.
In Portugal, there are many suitable locations for the use of wind energy throughout the territory, both in coastal areas that take advantage of the coastal winds, which blow more at the end of the day and in some summer months, as well as in the mountainous areas of the interior where the winds have continental characteristics and are more intense in winter. Generally, in all these places, wind speeds are very often above 5 m/s, a value at which wind turbines generally start producing electricity.
Bioenergy
Bioenergy comprises all energy produced from biomass (which represents more than 80% of energy production in this sector) or from biofuels. Regarding Portugal, the highlighted biofuel is biogas, a mixture of gases produced by the biological decomposition of organic matter, in the absence of oxygen.
Biomass is all organic matter of plant or animal origin capable of regenerating itself in a short time and in a sustainable way. Biomass comprises the by-products of the forest, agriculture, livestock and urban solid organic waste.
In forest biomass plants, electricity is produced through the direct burning of biomass. This burning makes it possible to obtain heat energy that transforms liquid water into steam which, in turn, is used to drive turbines and drive electric generators. Although this process releases CO2 into the atmosphere, the balance of CO2 emissions is null, since the plants that gave rise to the fuel during their life cycle absorb amounts of CO2 that offset the emissions.
Biomass is all organic matter of plant or animal origin capable of regenerating itself in a short time and in a sustainable way. Biomass comprises the by-products of the forest, agriculture, livestock and urban solid organic waste.
In forest biomass plants, electricity is produced through the direct burning of biomass. This burning makes it possible to obtain heat energy that transforms liquid water into steam which, in turn, is used to drive turbines and drive electric generators. Although this process releases CO2 into the atmosphere, the balance of CO2 emissions is null, since the plants that gave rise to the fuel during their life cycle absorb amounts of CO2 that offset the emissions.
PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR
Solar energy is the name given to radiation from the Sun and is one of the most important aspects of renewable energy. The production of electricity from solar sources is possible through photovoltaic solar panels.
When solar radiation falls on photovoltaic cells, it is partly converted directly into electrical energy through the so-called “photovoltaic effect”.
In Portugal, the availability of this resource is high, as is the potential for exploitation, not only due to the country’s geographical location, but also because production occurs mainly during the daytime hours of greatest electricity consumption, adapting to the profile of the load diagram. as an essential complement to other renewable generation technologies present in the national electricity mix.
When solar radiation falls on photovoltaic cells, it is partly converted directly into electrical energy through the so-called “photovoltaic effect”.
In Portugal, the availability of this resource is high, as is the potential for exploitation, not only due to the country’s geographical location, but also because production occurs mainly during the daytime hours of greatest electricity consumption, adapting to the profile of the load diagram. as an essential complement to other renewable generation technologies present in the national electricity mix.
Small Hydro
Hydroelectric energy is obtained from the kinetic energy of a mass of water that is converted into mechanical energy (by the rotation of an axis) through hydraulic turbines, which in turn drive alternators that generate electricity, as in hydroelectric power plants.
Generally, hydroelectric plants are classified as run-of-river power stations or power stations with regularization. Run-of-river power stations are characterized by limited storage capacity and flow regulation. The plants with regularization have storage capacity and can regulate, up to certain limits, the water flows.
This type of energy use of river water has become, since the beginning of the 20th century, one of the privileged ways of producing electricity. In fact, in the 1950s and 1960s, in Portugal, almost all consumption was provided by hydroelectric power stations, using only thermal power stations to support in periods of drought.
Generally, hydroelectric plants are classified as run-of-river power stations or power stations with regularization. Run-of-river power stations are characterized by limited storage capacity and flow regulation. The plants with regularization have storage capacity and can regulate, up to certain limits, the water flows.
This type of energy use of river water has become, since the beginning of the 20th century, one of the privileged ways of producing electricity. In fact, in the 1950s and 1960s, in Portugal, almost all consumption was provided by hydroelectric power stations, using only thermal power stations to support in periods of drought.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy is energy obtained from the heat that comes from inside the Earth. Due to high temperatures, magmatic intrusions and other places with volcanic activity are areas with high geothermal potential.
This type of energy can be used in thermal power stations, through a turbine whose blades are driven by water vapor produced by the heat of the Earth. This rotational motion is transmitted to the shaft of generators producing electricity.
In Portugal, in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, there are units for the production of electricity using geothermal energy. In addition to being used to produce electricity, geothermal energy is also used as a source of heat for greenhouses or heat pumps, for spas or industry, and for heating or cooling buildings.
This type of energy can be used in thermal power stations, through a turbine whose blades are driven by water vapor produced by the heat of the Earth. This rotational motion is transmitted to the shaft of generators producing electricity.
In Portugal, in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, there are units for the production of electricity using geothermal energy. In addition to being used to produce electricity, geothermal energy is also used as a source of heat for greenhouses or heat pumps, for spas or industry, and for heating or cooling buildings.