The production of electricity from Portugal’s dams hit a record high on February 16th 2014 when hydroelectricity provided 66% of the country’s total energy needs.
Throughout 2014 records have been broken as rainfall has topped dams up to full capacity, according to energy distributor REN.
In January 2014, 91% of the electricity consumed came from renewable sources including wind farms, dams, photovoltaic stations and biomass, but February 16 was the big day with 66% of consumption from hydroelectric power alone. For the technically minded the output was 99.9 gigawatts compared with 42.8 gigawattes produced on the same day in 2013.
REN reported that between January 1st and February 23rd this year, large hydro plants covered 39% of the country’s electricity needs, plus another 4% from small hydroelectric systems. The remaining energy needs were met from wind power which provided 33% of total, the rest from other green sources and power stations.
Good news for the green-minded consumer, or maybe not as Chinese-owned electricity reseller EDP announced today it is paying shareholders €1 billion from its 2013 profits. This pay-out may be slightly less than in 2012 but the company’s earnings rose 1% to €3.6 billion despite its complaint that its Iberian profits were down by €200 million.
An astute purchase by the Chinese and now that EDP is in private hands there is nothing much consumers can do about pricing levels which in Portugal are among the highest in Europe. This company now has a license to generate money and Portugal's increasing number of citizens who are living in fuel poverty must wonder why, with such record production levels from renewables, the prices have to remain so high.
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