A wind farm in Madeira, Portugal. (Photo via European Wind Energy Association/flickr/cc)
May 18, 2016
In what is being hailed as a major achievement, Portugal just generated all of its electricity from renewable sources for more than four days in a row.
According to an analysis of national figures by the Sustainable Land System Association in collaboration with the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN), from the morning of May 7 until the early evening on May 11--a total of 107 consecutive hours--"Electricity consumption in the country was fully covered by solar, wind and hydro power, " the Guardianreports.
APREN president Antonio Sa Costa called it "a harbinger of what will become reality in the near future, which will be 365 days a year."
"This is a significant achievement for a European country, but what seems extraordinary today will be commonplace in Europe in just a few years," the Guardian quotes James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe, as saying. "The energy transition process is gathering momentum and records such as this will continue to be set and broken across Europe."
Indeed, Germany also achieved made a renewable milestone this month, having a day when nearly 90 percent of its energy needs were met by renewables, highlighting, according to Climate Nexus journalist Jeremy Deaton, "the success of the Energiewende, or 'energy transition,' Germany's push to expand clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and democratize power generation."
And SolarPower Europe this month also celebrated (pdf) what it called "unprecedented achievement"--new data showing Europe had installed 100 gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power.
"Just a few years ago solar was considered to be a niche alternative technology, but it is now a major element of our energy system. In fact solar power is one of the most competitive forms of energy generation in Europe today," said Oliver Schafer, president of SolarPower Europe.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
In what is being hailed as a major achievement, Portugal just generated all of its electricity from renewable sources for more than four days in a row.
According to an analysis of national figures by the Sustainable Land System Association in collaboration with the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN), from the morning of May 7 until the early evening on May 11--a total of 107 consecutive hours--"Electricity consumption in the country was fully covered by solar, wind and hydro power, " the Guardianreports.
APREN president Antonio Sa Costa called it "a harbinger of what will become reality in the near future, which will be 365 days a year."
"This is a significant achievement for a European country, but what seems extraordinary today will be commonplace in Europe in just a few years," the Guardian quotes James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe, as saying. "The energy transition process is gathering momentum and records such as this will continue to be set and broken across Europe."
Indeed, Germany also achieved made a renewable milestone this month, having a day when nearly 90 percent of its energy needs were met by renewables, highlighting, according to Climate Nexus journalist Jeremy Deaton, "the success of the Energiewende, or 'energy transition,' Germany's push to expand clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and democratize power generation."
And SolarPower Europe this month also celebrated (pdf) what it called "unprecedented achievement"--new data showing Europe had installed 100 gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power.
"Just a few years ago solar was considered to be a niche alternative technology, but it is now a major element of our energy system. In fact solar power is one of the most competitive forms of energy generation in Europe today," said Oliver Schafer, president of SolarPower Europe.
In what is being hailed as a major achievement, Portugal just generated all of its electricity from renewable sources for more than four days in a row.
According to an analysis of national figures by the Sustainable Land System Association in collaboration with the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN), from the morning of May 7 until the early evening on May 11--a total of 107 consecutive hours--"Electricity consumption in the country was fully covered by solar, wind and hydro power, " the Guardianreports.
APREN president Antonio Sa Costa called it "a harbinger of what will become reality in the near future, which will be 365 days a year."
"This is a significant achievement for a European country, but what seems extraordinary today will be commonplace in Europe in just a few years," the Guardian quotes James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe, as saying. "The energy transition process is gathering momentum and records such as this will continue to be set and broken across Europe."
Indeed, Germany also achieved made a renewable milestone this month, having a day when nearly 90 percent of its energy needs were met by renewables, highlighting, according to Climate Nexus journalist Jeremy Deaton, "the success of the Energiewende, or 'energy transition,' Germany's push to expand clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and democratize power generation."
And SolarPower Europe this month also celebrated (pdf) what it called "unprecedented achievement"--new data showing Europe had installed 100 gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power.
"Just a few years ago solar was considered to be a niche alternative technology, but it is now a major element of our energy system. In fact solar power is one of the most competitive forms of energy generation in Europe today," said Oliver Schafer, president of SolarPower Europe.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.