In 2015, Spain recorded a worrying decline in the consumption of renewable energy, decreasing by 3,1 % compared to the previous year. This placed the use of renewables at a 13,9 % of total energy consumption, a percentage lower than the target set by the European Union. Meanwhile, at European level, renewable energy consumption experienced an increase of 9% compared to 2014, reaching 13% of primary energy consumedThese data were extracted from the report 'A renewable horizon, Europe's challenge towards 2020' by EAE Business School.
The fall in renewable energy consumption in Spain It is attributed to the reduction of subsidies and the rise of other cheaper energy sources, such as oil. However, it is hoped that this decline can be reversed. In 2017, the government allocated a total of 336 millones de euros to promote the use of renewable energy, with the aim of reaching the 20 % renewable consumption in line with European targets for 2020.
Energy sources in Spain
The energy panorama in Spain in 2015 showed a clear dependence on the oil, which represented the 42,2 % of the total. It was followed by natural gas with a 19,9 % and renewable energies with a 13,9 %. Other sources such as the nuclear energy and the carbon were left in a 12,1 % y 11,7 % of the total, respectively.
EAE Business School highlights that the strong growth in oil consumption was largely due to the drastic drop in its price, which also contributed to the decline of renewable energies. As the price of oil plummeted, renewable energies, without the necessary incentives, became less competitive.
Contributions to GDP
The report also details the Contributions of renewable energy to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Spain at the end of 2015. The photovoltaic solar was the one that reported the largest contribution, representing 32,75 % of the total renewable energies. It was followed by wind with a 21,12 %, the solar thermal power with a 16,45 %, the electric biomass with a 16,30 % and biofuels with a 5,90 %.
Despite a slight drop in the contribution of renewable energy to GDP since 2012, the sector continues to have a great potentialExperts expect that renewables could contribute up to 1% of Spanish GDP in the coming years, provided that the sector continues to receive the necessary support in the form of policies and financing.
Future of renewable energy: 2020 target
With the aim of achieving the 20 % of renewable consumption in the energy mix by 2020, Spain has promoted multiple renewable energy auctions. The most recent, held in 2017, resulted in the allocation of XNUMX 5.037 megawatts (MW), far exceeding the 3.000 MW initially planned.
According to the Ministry of Energy, this increase in the awarded power is due to the high demand of the energy sector, which led to the application of a special clause provided for in the call for tenders. This allowed the amount of energy allocated to be increased and to meet the growing demand.
Among the main contractors are companies such as: ACS, which took more than half of the auctioned capacity, with 1.550 MW of solar photovoltaic power. Other relevant actors included Forestry with 316 MW y Endesathrough Enel Green Power, with 339 MW.
Auction commitments and compliance
The successful bidders must meet strict deadlines so that the awarded projects are operational before 2020This ensures that the commitments made at the auction are met and that the returns of the bids received will be allowed as the promoters reach the established milestones.
This guarantee system ensures that the energy awarded will be fully used for the awarded projects, thus avoiding delays or half-finished projects. In this regard, the Government has implemented control mechanisms to ensure that all energy projects are developed within the established deadlines.
Although 2015 marked a decline in renewable energy consumption in Spain, the efforts made in recent years show a growing commitment by the Government and companies to reverse this situation. Promotion policies, investments and energy reforms may mean that, in the near future, renewables will play a more prominent role in the country's energy mix.