Electricity production in mainland Portugal fell by 26.2% in the first 50 days of this year, compared to the same period in 2021. This is the worst 50-day period in about a decade, and is due in the main, to the drop in hydroelectric generation, which registered a decrease of 73.2%, reports Jornal de Notícias.

Since the beginning of the year and until February 19, the electric production system generated 6,217 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, which contrasts with the 8,426 GWh produced in the same period last year.

With more than 90% of the national territory in severe or extreme drought, hydroelectric energy was the most affected, having produced only 876 GWh in 50 days, that is, 2,390 GWh less compared to the same period in 2021 and below 900 GWh generated in 2018.

The energy produced from renewable sources thus suffered a drop of 44.3%, due to the decrease in production from hydro sources and the decrease in wind energy (down 23.3%).

This is the worst year for renewable energies in the ten years analysed, according to analysis of the same newspaper.