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The lion share of renewables in Portugal is hydroelectric. The renewable statistics looks good on paper but wind power and PV is still fractional in their contr

The lion share of renewables in Portugal is hydroelectric. The renewable statistics looks good on paper but wind power and PV is still fractional in their contribution. Base load is still assured by Methane 'Natural' gas. The country has the geography and a long history of politicians focusing on large infrastructure projects, dams are needed for water supply since most water has origin in Spain who itself also hogs it. The hydro turbines are a bonus on top of water supply since the country has to import most hydrocarbon based fuels. All countries with the funds for it should continue to invest in Wind and PV but unless we as a collective of nations seriously invest in renewable 'storage' there will never be a renewable assured base load.

pedrocr 3y ago
> The lion share of renewables in Portugal is hydroelectric. This is not true. Portugal produces more wind power than it does hydroelectric: https://datahub.ren.pt/pt/eletricidade/balanco-mensal/ https://datahub.ren.pt/pt/eletricidade/balanco-mensal/ 10 TWh versus less than 8 for hydro. Solar is also already past 3 TWh and has barely started in a country with excellent conditions for it. We also already have quite a bit of storage. Hydro already contributes over 3 TWh of storage.
- DoingIsLearning 3y ago
  Fair, things have changed, I stand corrected. Wind power farms have grown a lot more than I had assumed. My point still stands storage infrastructure for intermittent renewables (Wind, PV) is still the key problem to solve for Gas/Coal to finally stay in the ground.
- dontlaugh 3y ago
  Even if it wasn't true, why would it matter? Hydroelectric power has no direct carbon emissions either.
  - DoingIsLearning 3y ago
    It matters because hydroeletric is a non-intermittent renewable source. The available hydro does not allow to cover all base load. It needs to be supplemented and the other renewable sources available are by their nature intermittent. So the problem of energy storage needs to be solved fast in order for gas/coal to be finally sunset.

pedrocr 3y ago

> The lion share of renewables in Portugal is hydroelectric. This is not true. Portugal produces more wind power than it does hydroelectric: https://datahub.ren.pt/pt/eletricidade/balanco-mensal/ https://datahub.ren.pt/pt/eletricidade/balanco-mensal/ 10 TWh versus less than 8 for hydro. Solar is also already past 3 TWh and has barely started in a country with excellent conditions for it. We also already have quite a bit of storage. Hydro already contributes over 3 TWh of storage.

DoingIsLearning 3y ago
Fair, things have changed, I stand corrected. Wind power farms have grown a lot more than I had assumed. My point still stands storage infrastructure for intermittent renewables (Wind, PV) is still the key problem to solve for Gas/Coal to finally stay in the ground.
dontlaugh 3y ago
Even if it wasn't true, why would it matter? Hydroelectric power has no direct carbon emissions either.
- DoingIsLearning 3y ago
  It matters because hydroeletric is a non-intermittent renewable source. The available hydro does not allow to cover all base load. It needs to be supplemented and the other renewable sources available are by their nature intermittent. So the problem of energy storage needs to be solved fast in order for gas/coal to be finally sunset.