Portugal power demand sees lowest May total since 2003: REN

Barcelona — Portuguese power demand in May fell 13% year on year to 3.55 TWh -- its lowest May total since 2003 as coronavirus-related restrictions had a significant impact for a second month, grid operator REN said June 3.

The May total was lower than April 2020, making it the lowest month on REN records back to 2007.

Portugal still has a state of alert in place that started March 18 and is expected to be lifted in June. For the year to date, the impact has meant power demand is down 4.7% year on year to 20.2 TWh.

The reduced consumption since the start of the alert has meant Portugal went coal-free in its April generating mix, but failed to follow that up in May, registering coal-fired generation on five days during the month, according to data from European transparency platform EntsoE.

Nonetheless, renewable output rose strongly due to a jump of 90% year on year in hydro output to 966 GWh. REN said there was a hydropower capability index of 1.05 in May versus a historical average of 1, with reservoirs 79% full at the end of the month, holding 2.5 TWh.

The country also increased its net imports from Spain by 47% year on year to 599 GWh as it saw wind levels drop to a record low.

Solar PV output also increased 11% to 127 GWh with an ongoing uptick in installed capacity to 925 MW at the start of the month.

Portugal is due to install 1.15 GW from last year's auction by 2022, while it is planning to hold a second auction for around 2 GW, some of that with the process starting July 2020.

By contrast, wind output continued to come in significantly below its average, with May output down 41% year on year to 679 GWh. The wind capability index was 0.72 in May compared to the historical average of 1, REN said, with the year to date index showing 0.84, the lowest value recorded by REN since 2001.

Gas demand

In the gas market, domestic consumption accentuated the downward trend seen in the previous month, REN said, with a year-on-year drop of 32% to 3.9 TWh which included a decline of 28% in the conventional segment to 2.7 TWh and a drop of 40% in the power production segment to 1.2 TWh.

The decrease in the conventional segment was influenced by large consumers who anticipated their annual stoppages, REN said.

From January to May, there was a 2.1% decrease in gas demand to 25 TWh, with gas-to-power demand propping up weaker conventional demand.

Gas demand for power generation has increased 18% year on year to 7.5 TWh aided by reduced coal-fired output, partly outweighing a 9% drop in conventional segment demand to 17.5 TWh.

According to Portuguese environmental group Zero, the overall coal reduction has reduced CO2 emission by 1.4 million mt in the months March through May, including a 59-day stretch of coal free generation from March 14 to May 11.

Portugal electricity balance (May 2020)

Source: REN