Renewables power over 86% of our electricity
INE data show renewables reached 86.2% of electricity produced in 2024, driven above all by solar growth, while natural gas consumption fell sharply.
The week in the Pulse · 13 – 19 July 2026
Clean power gains meet harder land choices
Portugal produced 86.2% of its electricity from renewables in 2024, but arguments over where new capacity belongs remain unresolved. Water restrictions in Almada and climate risks in Madeira showed the pressure on essential systems. In the Algarve, repaired pipes saved water, while olive groves and mixed planting offered practical ways to make fire-prone landscapes more resilient.
What shaped the week
Portugal’s electricity figures show the scale of change already achieved. Renewables accounted for 86.2% of production in 2024, led above all by solar growth, as natural gas consumption fell sharply. Yet the next phase is also a planning question. Rewilding Portugal and Quercus say the renewable acceleration zones programme lacks cumulative impact assessment and excludes protected ecological reserves. The government says municipalities will retain full autonomy to define zones through local plans, after consultation drew over 9,000 responses.
Water security looks different from place to place. Almada’s supply remains limited while the utility restores reserves, although ERSAR says quality is assured and asks residents to prioritise essential use. In the Algarve, municipalities rehabilitated more than 160 kilometres of pipes and saved over 2.15 million cubic metres, exceeding PRR targets. Madeira is looking further ahead: projections discussed in Funchal include less rainfall, rising seas and more extreme events by 2100.
The fire record sharpens the case for work at landscape scale. Just 44 fires caused 91% of the roughly 271,000 hectares burned in 2025, according to an SGIFR report. That finding shifts attention towards preventing extreme blazes. Near Abrantes, one association says restoring abandoned traditional olive groves can reduce fuel and slow fire spread; it has recovered 5,000 trees since 2023. In Crato, Ekogaio has combined permaculture, agroforestry and water management on municipal land, where more than 10,000 trees were planted. Together, they test concrete ways to manage land before damaging fires begin.
Stories behind the week
Renewables dominated electricity production in 2024, with solar driving the increase and natural gas use falling. The debate now centres on siting: environmental groups question ecological safeguards, while the government says municipalities will control acceleration zones through their own plans.
Environmental groups challenge the programme
Rewilding Portugal and Quercus criticised the renewable acceleration zones programme, flagging the absence of cumulative impact assessment and the exclusion of protected ecological reserves.
Municipalities to keep autonomy on renewable zones
The government assured that municipalities will have full autonomy to define renewable acceleration zones through their plans, following a consultation that drew over 9,000 responses.
Restricted supply in Almada, leakage reductions in the Algarve and long-term climate projections for Madeira show three sides of water security: immediate restraint, investment in ageing networks and preparation for less rainfall, rising seas and more extreme events.
Almada's water supply still restricted
ERSAR says supply in Almada remains limited as the utility works to restore reserves, with quality assured and a call for responsible, priority use only.
Algarve beats water-loss targets
Algarve municipalities exceeded PRR targets, rehabilitating over 160 km of pipes and saving more than 2.15 million cubic metres of water.
Madeira looks at water and climate risk
A Funchal workshop examined how climate change threatens urban water infrastructure, presenting projections of less rainfall, rising seas and more extreme events for Madeira by 2100.
Just 44 fires caused 91% of the area burned in 2025, putting extreme-fire prevention in focus. Work in Abrantes and Crato offers concrete landscape approaches, from restoring abandoned olive groves to combining agroforestry, permaculture, water management and tree planting.
A handful of fires, most of the damage
An SGIFR report found that just 44 fires caused 91% of the roughly 271,000 hectares burned in 2025, shifting the focus to preventing extreme blazes.
Old olive groves as firebreaks
An Abrantes association argues restoring abandoned traditional olive groves cuts fuel load and fire spread, having recovered 5,000 trees since 2023.
Regenerating landscapes from near Tomar
Ekogaio combines permaculture, agroforestry and water management to restore ecosystems, with a flagship project in Crato where over 10,000 trees were planted on municipal land.
The map keeps filling in. This week we added 47 projects and 83 events. Sustainable Living now connects 220 projects, 117 upcoming events and 473 people across Portugal.
New projects this week
Natura Matéria
Natura Matéria is a spin-off of the University of Minho specialising in sustainable construction materials and consultancy, focused on natur…
Brigada do Mar
Brigada do Mar is a Portuguese environmental NGO founded in 2009 dedicated to decontaminating the coastline and educating communities about …
Associação Odiana
Associação Odiana is a regional development association based in Castro Marim that promotes sustainable growth across the Baixo Guadiana ter…
On our agenda
21
CAP Webinar on the National Nature Restoration Plan
CAP is hosting a webinar on the National Nature Restoration Plan, featuring a presentation of the document and a debate between government officials and the agroforestry sector. The session is free, held via Microsoft Teams, but requires prior registration.
22
Geo-hike: The Secret Code of the Rocks
A geo-hike in Castro Verde, using geologist's hammers and magnifying glasses, to explore the geological landscape of the Biosphere Reserve. Activity aimed at children aged 10 and up and adults up to 65 years old.
24
Escola do Reparar 2026 | Ed#7 | LANDscape: Single Module (registration)
Escola do Reparar 2026 | Ed#7 Re-flexo & Re-clame: the recalling of mystery SINGLE MODULE PARTICIPATION (registration) Module: LANDscape 24 Jul – 1 Aug 2026 | Trust Collective, Barril de Alva (Arganil) "Re-flexo to see anew. Re-clame to speak with rigor. Recalling the Mystery: making shine what is inseparable in us. Repairing the Irreparable within us." ■■■ Escola do Reparar is AND Lab's annual program of (trans)formation, research and creation, guided by the Modo Operativo AND (MO_AND). The theme-question…
25
Eco Construction
Intensive 7-day course on eco construction, with theoretical and practical training in techniques such as cob, adobe, rammed earth and wood, taking place at Aldeia do Vale between Sintra and Mafra.
25
Descida do Rio Ocreza
ENaldeiasvoltar território serra da lousãvoltar serra da lousã aldeias aigra nova aigra velha candal casal de são simão casal novo cerdeira chiqueiro comareira coentral grande ferraria de são joão gondramaz pena talasnal serra do açorvoltar serra do açor aldeias benfeita aldeia das dez fajão sobral de são miguel vila cova de alva zêzerevoltar zêzere aldeias barroca álvaro janeiro de baixo janeiro de cima mosteiro pedrógão pequeno tejo-ocrezavoltar tejo-ocreza aldeias água formosa figueira…
Seven days in the Pulse
- Good morning! Today's Pulse rolls along the rails of a greener Algarve, catches up with renewables leading the grid, and stops by community life across the country.
- A gentle look at sustainable Portugal today: young farmers finding their footing, forests healing after storms, and small creatures reminding us why care matters. Take a breath and read on.
- Good morning. Today's Pulse spans wild births in the Algarve, debates over where renewables should go, and communities finding new ways to save water and care for their land.
- Good morning. Today the big conversation is the Girabolhos dam and how Portugal balances energy, water and nature, alongside quieter wins in recycling, mobility and biodiversity science.
- A warm welcome to today's Pulse: from newly discovered moths in the Algarve to coastal resilience plans and a country working through its water and wildfire challenges. Let's take a calm look at sustainable Portugal today.
- Hello and welcome to today's Pulse. Water runs through many of today's stories, alongside encouraging news for wildlife, renewables and local flavours.
- Hello and welcome to today's Pulse. From wildfire lessons and water worries to bird-rich landscapes and small local wonders, here is a calm look at sustainable Portugal today.
Hear when something grows
New projects, openings and stories — a short letter, only when there's something worth sharing.