Submitted 3 months ago by schizoidman@lemm.ee to energy@slrpnk.net
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/03/renewables-covered-71-of-portugal-power-demand-in-2024/
Weird definition of “led by solar”
Hydroelectric and wind power each contributed 28% and 27% of electricity generation, respectively, with PV providing 10% and biomass 6%. REN noted that solar production grew 37% year on year, driven by rapid capacity expansion.
Solar has only started growing very recently as the government has focused on large projects and made sure home generation for feed-in is nonviable.
This choice has, “of course”, no relation to how massive projects means lots of money greasing palms whilst home generation does not.
Most of which is hydro-generation, and most of that is the product of an installed base or projects started way back in Fascist days (so, half a century ago). By the way, this is way is why the year before this value was much lower - below 50% - since there was a drought in the country (which, by the way, is something Global Warming models predict will become a far more common occurrence) so hydro-generation produced way less.
Meanwhile solar generation, which should be very widespread in the country containing the capital of Europe with the most hours of sunlight per year (and yet not as hot as North Africa, hence solar panels here do do not suffer as much from heat related lowering of efficiency) has barely started going and home solar generation is pretty limited due to - as somebody else already pointed out - really bad legislation (which, knowing my country as I due, I have little doubt it’s the product of Corruption in favour of well connected companies such as the largest energy provider in the country - which, “curiously”, employs lots of politicians from the two main parties).
As usual, my country is a shit show which only succeeds at something by sheer absolute luck, because it sure as hell isn’t due to it being properly managed or having clean competent politicians.
Well, at least it’s better than in Spain /s
I wouldn’t put any bets down on which one is winning the “most crooked shitshow” competition…
poVoq@slrpnk.net 3 months ago
Yet PV is artificially held back by very unfavourable feed-in regulation. Really a pity as the potential is so high.
Mihies@programming.dev 3 months ago
Not so high without an adequate storage.
poVoq@slrpnk.net 3 months ago
I am talking about feed-in from home users, which would work largely without storage if it was allowed to feed the excess into the grid during the day (like it is posdible in most other EU countries).
But due to bureocratic hurdles this is basically not allowed in Portugal and the thus required in-home batteries are largely unaffordable by the relatively low income households here.
Wanderer@lemm.ee 3 months ago
There always a grid cost and solar energy is always cheapest when there is more solar power. Additionally users of electricity largely want fixed prices not wholesale prices.
So how do you expect people putting solar on their houses to pay fair share of, low energy value, grid costs, inertia and frequency control, higher prices at peak?
I’m all for solar but there is no way solar producers should get prices at peak time when they producing at off peak time with high supply and getting free additional costs.
poVoq@slrpnk.net 3 months ago
You are missing the point. Feed-in was effectively forbidden in Portugal and even the brand new change in regulation is still a huge bureocratic barrier for minimal possible income (low double digit per month) that the typical home PV owner could realistically expect.