Portugal energy mix & electricity
Power plants in Portugal produced 51.1 TWh of electricity in 2025. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 30%, with hydropower (29.7%), wind power (26.7%) and solar power (17.3%) all playing major roles.
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 15.18 | 29.7% | +12.8 |
| Wind | 13.67 | 26.7% | +4.1 |
| Solar | 8.86 | 17.3% | +15.8 |
| Gas | 8.39 | 16.4% | −4.2 |
| Bioenergy | 3.48 | 6.8% | +0.7 |
| Oil | 1.35 | 2.6% | −0.3 |
| Other renewables | 0.2 | 0.4% | 0 |
| Total | 51.13 | 100% |
Portugal: electricity in context
Power plants in Portugal produced 51.1 TWh of electricity in 2025. That is similar to Laos. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 30%, with hydropower (29.7%), wind power (26.7%) and solar power (17.3%) all playing major roles.
Renewables supplied 81% of the electricity, which ranks Portugal 26th of 158 countries (in the top quarter). This puts it 47 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Europe (41.6%). That beats the EU-27 average of 47.7%. Generating one kWh emits about 128 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). That is a very low-carbon power system. On carbon intensity, Portugal ranks 28th of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been solar power: its output rose by 8.1 TWh, lifting its share by 15.8 percentage points. Coal moved the other way, falling by 14.7 TWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 33.3 percentage points over the decade. Total generation shrank by 10 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 414 to 128 g/kWh, a 69% cut.
Portugal has all but eliminated coal power: it supplied 40.7% of electricity at its peak in 1995, against less than 1% now.
Wind and solar together provided 44.1% of electricity (solar 17.3%, wind 26.7%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 851 kWh of solar electricity a year, 2.5× the global average. In solar electricity per person, Portugal ranks 19th in the world. Wind adds 1,313 kWh per person, the 12th-highest figure of 156 countries. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2014.
Portugal generates 4,911 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 1.3 times the global average. Imports cover around 15% of demand: Portugal bought 9.3 TWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 1990. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Portugal against the world, Europe and EU-27 averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Renewables supply 39.7% of primary energy and fossil fuels 60.3% (2024). Per person, that is 25,922 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Substitution method: non-fossil electricity is converted to the primary energy a fossil plant would have needed.
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Portugal
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 469 utility-scale plants in Portugal with a combined capacity of 14.7 GW. Wind plants account for the largest slice (34% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Sines power station (1,296 MW, Coal). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sines power station | Coal | 1,296 | 1986 | EDP Produção |
| 2 | Ribatejo | Gas | 1,176 | 2005 | — |
| 3 | Tapada do Outeiro | Gas | 990 | — | — |
| 4 | Pego C.C. | Gas | 837 | — | — |
| 5 | Lares | Gas | 826 | 2009 | — |
| 6 | Frades II | Hydro | 780 | — | — |
| 7 | Pego power station | Coal | 682 | 1994 | Tejo Energia SA |
| 8 | Alto Lindoso | Hydro | 630 | — | — |
| 9 | Alto Douro | Wind | 253 | 2010 | — |
| 10 | Alto Minho I | Wind | 240 | 2008 | — |
| 11 | Solara4 | Solar | 219 | — | — |
| 12 | Alto da Coutada | Wind | 166 | 2010 | — |
| 13 | Pinhal Interior | Wind | 144 | 2006 | — |
| 14 | Raia | Wind | 129 | 2011 | — |
| 15 | Penamacor | Wind | 124 | 2006 | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 469 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Portugal
505 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 3.5 GW of solar and 5.7 GW of wind operating, plus 13.7 GW under construction or planned.
How does Portugal compare?
Portugal next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 81% | 81% | 19% | 128 | 4,911 | 51.1 | — | |
| Spain | 55.9% | 74.6% | 25.4% | 154 | 6,012 | 288 | Compare | |
| Morocco | 24% | 24% | 76% | 596 | 1,158 | 44.5 | Compare | |
| France | 26.1% | 94.9% | 5.1% | 41 | 8,552 | 570 | Compare | |
| Ireland | 48.1% | 48.1% | 51.9% | 257 | 5,831 | 31 | Compare | |
| Switzerland | 67.8% | 97.7% | 2.3% | 39 | 7,251 | 65 | Compare | |
| Belgium | 38.9% | 72% | 28% | 150 | 6,199 | 72.9 | Compare | |
| Europe average | 41.6% | 62% | 38% | 271 | 6,203 | 4,626 | Compare | |
| European Union (EU-27) average | 47.7% | 71.1% | 28.9% | 210 | 6,230 | 2,797 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Portugal
Portugal energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Portugal is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Portugal?
How clean is the electricity in Portugal?
Does Portugal have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Portugal use per person?
How much solar power does Portugal produce?
Does Portugal import electricity?
More countries in Europe
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.