Portugal

Index rank 25

Energy Sustainability Index Rankings

 2010  2011  2012  Trend
Energy Performance  20  32  28 
Energy Security  12  39  23 
Social Equity  34  36  37 
Environmental Impact Mitigation  38  40  38 
       
Contextual Performance  20  25  26 
Political Strength  20  24  30 
Societal Strength  26  27  27 
Economic Strength  22  25  25 
       
Overall Rank  19  29  25 
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Fossil Fuel Resources

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Key Metrics

Industrial sector (% of GDP) 22.8
TPEP / TPEC  (net energy importer) 0.17
Emission intensity (kg CO2 per USD) 1.07
Energy affordability (USD per kWh) 0.22
GDP / capita (PPP, USD); GDP Group 23,257 (B)
Energy intensity (million BTU per USD) 0.02
CO2 emissions (metric tons) / capita) 5.32
Population Access to Electricity (%) 100.0
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Index Commentary

Portugal rises by four places in the Index. Energy security performance improves mainly due to an increased diversification of electricity production; however the improvements were tempered by a relative flat lining trend of energy consumption, which places Portugal in a weaker position compared to its peer countries. A slight increase in environmental impact mitigation was driven by a reduction of CO2 emissions from electricity and heat generation, despite higher energy and emissions intensity per capita. Political strength drops six positions due to small decreases across the three underlying indicators. Relatively steady social equity and contextual performance leads to a drop of one position to rank 37 in the Index.

Trends and Outlook

Portugal has made considerable improvements in mitigating its environmental impact (declining emissions and energy intensity, improving air and water quality) and improving its energy security (lower dependence on external sources, increase installed renewable capacity). Recent energy policy developments, expected to have positive impact on the energy sustainability balance, include the unbundling of the energy sector, a better regulated access to grid and gas storage, development of grid and market integration with Spain, full domestic market liberalisation, increased competition, development electricity transmission grid, additional gas storage capacity, promotion of renewable energy and of energy efficiency at production and consumption level Issues policymakers are expected to focus on are: 1) continue pursuing energy efficiency namely in buildings and in transportation sector; 2) support in a sustainable way renewable energy; 3) decarbonise the economy; 3) search support to the development of interconnections to European electricity and gas markets; 4) promote on- and offshore exploration of oil and gas; and 5) reduce external dependence.