Electricity: How is it produced in Spain?

We take a look at the “2022 Electricity System Report” presented by Red Eléctrica to find out how electricity is generated in Spain

Over the last few months, there has been an avalanche of records in renewable electricity generation in Spain, with maximum wind and solar photovoltaic production values ​​of 61,176 GWh and 27,864 GWh respectively. These milestones have not occurred by chance, but have been arriving thanks to a renaissance of investment in renewable energy in the Iberian country, which has translated into a greater contribution of green energy to the Spanish electricity system. Thus, coinciding with the publication of the “2022 Electricity System Report” by Red Eléctrica, we ask ourselves a question that we would like to answer today: how is electricity produced in Spain? The answer is as varied as it is fascinating; Let’s go for it!

The first thing we need to understand is that Spain is a country whose energy balance is, or has traditionally been, one of imports. The Iberian Peninsula is, with a few small exceptions, a major source of hydrocarbons; a type of energy resource that has been and continues to be essential for consumption in vehicle and freight transport, electricity generation, home heating, etc. This disadvantageous situation was what produced, during the first decade of the 2000s, a real boom in renewables that placed Spain at the head of the global green energy markets; although this situation changed with the economic crisis of the second decade of the 2000s and a series of laws that penalized investment in renewable energy.

The resurgence of renewable electricity in Spain

Electric energy in Spain and installed power structure. Source: Red Eléctrica

All in all, the third decade of this century seems to have strongly returned the country to its role as a fundamental market in renewable matters; and the fact is that the electrical energy environment in Spain has accumulated four years of growth. Thus, this past 2022, Spain has experienced a growth of 9.1% of its installed renewable capacity (5,899 MW more), allowing 59.2% of the country’s electricity generation capacity to be renewable; a milestone that is part of a national strategy in line with the “RepowerEU” plan, presented by the European Commission.

Evolution of installed renewable power in Spain. Source: Red Eléctrica

This increase in installed renewable power can be explained by the contribution that solar photovoltaic power has made over the last year, increasing its capacity by 4,498 MW, representing 76.3% of the new power and reaching the largest historical increase for this type of electricity generation source. A milestone that has displaced hydraulic energy and has allowed photovoltaics to become the third source of generation in the electricity mix in Spain, with 16.6% of the total installed power. Regarding wind power, it has contributed an additional 1,400 MW of renewable energy, remaining the main source of renewable generation in the national park with 25.2% of the total.

What is the situation of renewables at an international level?

As can be seen from the previous graph, Norway stands out as the country with the greatest contribution from renewables to the installed capacity in its electricity generation system with 98.6% of the total. Regarding the most populated countries in Europe, the first would be Germany, with 65%, followed by Spain with 62.5%.