At the end of June, Portugal had 2,980 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic capacity in operation, 419 MW more than the existing solar power at the end of 2022. This is about half of the capacity added in all of last year (860 MW), which shows that 2023 is seeing a pace of expansion of solar energy in Portugal in line with last year. A value, however, below what will be necessary for the country to comply with the new goals that the Government proposes for 2030.

The most recent figures from the DGEG – Directorate-General for Energy and Geology show, according to Expresso, that of this new capacity that was installed in the first six months of 2023, the majority is decentralised, that is, in production units for self-consumption (UPAC) – installations primarily aimed at directly supplying a specific customer (industrial or residential).

Of the 419 MW photovoltaics added until June, 81% are UPAC (338 MW) and only 19% (or 81 MW) are larger photovoltaic plants to be injected only into the electrical grid, writes the publication, based on data from the DGEC.