How Did Portugal Give Up Nonrenewable Energy For Four Straight Days?
Description
It was a significant milestone achieved by Portugal, when the country gave up non-renewable for four straight days. The people did not use any fossil fuels, but they used the renewable energy as they kept electricity on solar, hydro-power and the wind energy. For 107 hours, the people in Portugal resorted to it and not the non-renewable energy like coal, thermal power, or natural gas. The zero emissions were reported across European countries in the places like Germany and Denmark and now in the year 2016, it was used by Portugal.
Usage for Four Straight Days
For the four straight days, Portugal used renewable energy like solar, wind and hydro-power energy. This was possible with the co-ordination between the meteorological department and the electricity network too. The renewable energy can also become surplus with the drastic turn in the weather conditions as it may be sunny or windy in the particular days. These are environmental-friendly resources as reported by the country’s departments and will also help to ward off solution. It was also seen that the solar power will play a significant role in sustaining energy efforts in Portugal as it receives maximum sunshine in the whole of Europe. It is seen that the country used renewable energy in the past years also.
Energy Sources Used
In Portugal, the energy sources that were used included solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, and it was only possible due to the weather conditions. It was a remarkable feat for any country to support their population of 10 million people only with the help of renewable energy. The weather was sunny, breezy or windy during this period, which not only helped in the energy collection but also in its utilization. The grid was also not strained with excessive cooling or heating, and the mild temperature was maintained. They didn’t include the gas-powered vehicles, but the ones which were electrical got charged during this period, and there was zero emission. According to the latest reports, the country’s renewable resources provided constituted 48% and generated the electricity. It was also seen with the help of wind energy, 550 MW was also added as a renewable energy resource.
Environmental-friendly Efforts in other European Countries
Not only in Portugal but many other European and other foreign countries have also increasingly been turned on to the idea of renewable energy. Germany switched on to the usage of renewable energy source on May 8, 2016 and its 95% of the power demands were met by these sources, and it was seen as an achievement for an industrialized nation. Even in the fall of 2015, Denmark was another country, which met its electricity demand as it generated 140% of it with the help of wind energy. Other foreign countries like Scotland generated around 57.7% of the electricity consumption with the help of renewable energy, Hawaii has made a law to go 100% renewable by the year 2045, whereas California will hit the record of 50% by 2030, and many more countries will also join them.
