Portugal reaches 225.5 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity

Cumulative photovoltaic capacity in Portugal reached 225.5 MW at the end of 2012, according to a report published by the Portuguese energy regulator, DGGE (Direcção Geral de Energia e Geologia), on March 4.

Of these, 99.8 MW was photovoltaic power installed via mini-generation (up to 3.68 kW) and micro-generation (up to 250 kW) schemes.

In 2012, the country added 67.8 MW of photovoltaic power –  a 36% increase compared to 2011, when Portugal added 32.4 MW of new capacity.

Similarly, the DGGE reports an increase in solar energy generation, which reached 360 GWh in 2012 compared to 265 GWh in 2011. Still, penetration of solar energy in the Portuguese market remains slow, with photovoltaic projects covering only 0.7% of 2012 total energy demand.