Portugal Decreases Energy Dependence to 65%

Why this is here: Portugal’s renewable energy sources—solar, wind, water, waste, and expertise—position it to potentially transform energy from a cost into a competitive advantage.

In Portugal, energy dependence dropped from 89% in 2005 to roughly 65% recently. Between 2015 and 2024, Portugal increased renewable energy in electricity generation from 48% to 87.5%. During the same period, the country’s real GDP grew by 21% while greenhouse gas emissions fell by 21%.

Currently, fossil fuels still account for about 55% of Portugal’s final energy consumption, with demand increasing since 2015—particularly from oil in road transport. Electricity only represents 28% of Portugal’s total final energy use, despite a largely renewable electricity system.

Electrifying transport, buildings, and industry is now key. A recent EY-Eurelectric study estimates that electrifying European corporate fleets could save up to 246 billion euros by 2030.

Portugal will likely need 4 to 6 GW of batteries by 2030 to avoid wasting renewable energy. The country continues to plan for faster licensing and increased investment in networks and storage.