APREN makes an overview of 2020

The Portuguese Renewable Energy Association  (APREN), Member of ALER, prepared an overview of the Portuguese renewable energy sector in 2020.

From the data, it is worth mentioning that in the last year in Portugal, 49 324 GWh of electricity were generated, accumulated from January to December, of which 61.7% were from renewable sources. Electricity production from renewable energies avoided the emission of 17.8 million tons of CO2.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2020, an average hourly price was recorded in the Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL) in Portugal of 34.1 € / MWh, a reduction of 29% compared to the same period last year. In fact, this year the lowest average price in the history of MIBEL was recorded, a consequence of the drop in consumption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in parallel with an average year in terms of renewable generation in the system. This price reduction in the electricity market was transversal to the entire European market. In the same period, 689 non-consecutive hours were recorded in which renewable generation was sufficient to supply electricity consumption in mainland Portugal, with an average hourly price in the MIBEL of € 30.4 / MWh. It is worth noting the significant reduction observed in May 2020, where the average hourly price reached 28.8 € / MWh, having identified periods with prices below 5 € / MWh at the beginning of the month. In relation to December, there was an average hourly price of 42.0 € / MWh, the second highest value seen in 2020, which represents an increase of 25% compared to the same period last year.

In the reporting period, the electricity system of Mainland Portugal recorded electricity imports of 6,397 GWh and exports of 4,942 GWh, resulting in an import balance of 1 455 GWh, 57% lower than the import balance recorded in the same period in 2019.

The renewable electricity generation sector saved 645 M € in imported fossil fuels and 440 million euros in CO2 emission licenses, the latter reflecting an average license value of 24.7 € / tCO2. December registered a record value, having reached an average price of CO2 emission licenses of € 30.9 / tCO2.

The production of electricity from coal was significantly low, with a utilization rate of only 15% throughout the year, starting the phase-out of this technology in electricity generation in Portugal.

See full Bulletin (only available in Portuguese).