European country just ran on renewable energy for four days

folarin okunola

May 19, 2016 10:09 AM

During the record-setting run, Portugal ran on wind, solar, and hydro-electricity alone without needing to fall back on power sourced from its coal and natural gas plants.

Solar panels in Portugal

As renewable energy becomes more and more popular as a safe, cost-effective source of electricity, we are seeing more and more countries step up their clean energy infrastructure - latest of which is Portugal.

According to a report on ScienceAlert, the country ran on renewable energy alone for four days straight this month, totaling a run of 107 hours.

During the record-setting run, Portugal ran on wind, solar, and hydro-electricity alone without needing to fall back on power sourced from its coal and natural gas plants.

The numbers released by the country's ZERO Sustainable Land Association in partnership with the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN) show that the nation has come a long way in terms of embracing clean energy.

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The news follows that of Germany reaching an amazing energy goal of its own in the same time frame - the country sourced 95% of its energy from renewable sources.

"These data show that Portugal can be more ambitious in a transition to a net consumption of electricity from 100 percent renewable, with huge reductions of emissions of greenhouse gases, which cause global warming and consequent climate change," said a statement from ZERO on its website.

If you follow the headlines, it is obvious that nations across Europe are joining the momentum with Scotland and Austria stepping their wind and hydro power sectors respectively.

If this continues, the world as a whole could be on track to source more than a quarter of its energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade.

folarin okunola