Real-time electricity demand has become a key indicator to understand how the electrical system behaves at any given time of day. It not only allows us to see how much electricity we are consuming overall, but also shows where that energy comes from, what technologies are in use, and what the environmental impact is in terms of CO2 emissions.2In Spain, this type of information is constantly updated and is available to anyone who wants to consult it.
Having this data available, presented in graphs and curves that are updated every few minutesIt helps both system operators and advanced users, businesses, and energy enthusiasts. Furthermore, it can be complemented by monitoring individual electricity consumption at home, thanks to smart meters and distributors' online portals—tools that help... optimize electrical consumptionUnderstanding how this whole system works is fundamental to navigating the complexities of changing prices, energy transition, and a commitment to renewables wisely.
What is real-time electricity demand?
When we talk about real-time electricity demand, we are referring to instantaneous consumption. of the electricity being produced in the electrical system at a specific moment. In Spain, the system operator publishes this data continuously through graphs (the well-known demand curves) that are updated every five or ten minutes, depending on the geographical area considered.
These curves show, for each instant, various types of informationThe system shows the actual demand being generated, the projected demand calculated in advance, and the scheduled demand that had been entered into the electricity markets. It also identifies the maximum and minimum demand values ​​reached throughout each day, allowing for a clear view of peak consumption and off-peak hours.
Along with the demand data, a breakdown of the necessary electricity generation is usually presented. to cover that consumption. This includes the different technologies in the electricity mix (wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, combined cycle gas turbines, coal if present, cogeneration, etc.), as well as the energy destined for export to other countries or for specific uses such as pumped hydro storage. In this way, we can see not only how much is consumed, but also how that electricity is being produced.
An increasingly important additional element is information on COâ‚‚ emissions2 equivalent associated with the generation fleet. The system operator calculates these emissions by assigning each technology an official emission factor, in accordance with plans and European regulationsIt displays both total emissions and a breakdown by energy source. This allows for a direct correlation between real-time demand and its carbon footprint.
In addition to the general graph of the demand curve, there are representations by time intervals. (for example, by days, weeks or months) that allow the analysis of homogeneous behavior patterns: how consumption habits change according to the day of the week, the season of the year or specific situations such as cold waves, heat waves or special holidays.
Recent evolution of electricity demand in Spain
In recent years, electricity demand in Spain has shown ups and downs linked to the economyEnergy prices, the weather, and, of course, the pandemic all played a role. After two consecutive years of decline, 2024 marked a turning point with a slight increase in electricity consumption nationwide.
During 2024, the total demand for electricity in Spain amounted to 248.811 GWhThis represents a 0,9% increase compared to the previous year. This rebound comes after a period in which demand was hampered by the health crisis, changes in consumption habits, and a slowdown in economic activity.
The Spanish economy in 2024 registered remarkable growth compared to other countries in our region.This growth was primarily driven by domestic consumption and exports, with household spending and tourism playing a crucial role. Factors such as the war in Ukraine, the international energy crisis, and extreme weather events (like the DANA storm at the end of October) have not prevented the country from demonstrating remarkable resilience, with relatively low inflation and a high level of employment.
Despite this recovery, electricity demand still remains below pre-COVID-19 levels.In other words, more electricity is being consumed than in the years immediately following the pandemic, but demand levels have not yet reached those seen before the health crisis. This is related to structural changes in working methods, energy efficiency, and the deployment of self-consumption.
If we analyze only the peninsular system, which represents around 94% of Spanish demandThe behavior is very similar to that of the country as a whole. In 2024, peninsular demand reached 233.462 GWh, also showing an increase of 0,9% compared to the previous year. This data reinforces the idea of ​​a moderate but widespread recovery in electricity consumption.
The role of storage and pumping in the electrical system
Energy storage has become a fundamental component for integrating renewables and manage demand in real time. In the Spanish system, pumped hydro storage and, to a lesser extent, batteries, are reaching record levels of use.
In 2024, consumption associated with pumped storage reached 8.666 GWhMeanwhile, turbine energy (i.e., energy returned to the grid after pumping water to an upper reservoir) reached 5.459 GWh. These figures represent increases of 5,8% and 4,9% respectively compared to 2023, but the most striking aspect is that they are more than 40% higher than the 2022 figures and approximately triple what was recorded before the pandemic.
This increase in pumping makes perfect sense in an increasingly renewable system.When there is abundant wind or solar power generation and demand is low, some of that energy could be wasted if it is not stored. Pumped hydro storage allows energy to be consumed during periods of excess (by pumping water to an elevated reservoir) and then recovered when demand increases or renewable energy production decreases, thus reducing renewable energy curtailment and stabilizing the grid.
March 2024 was particularly significant, as it became the month with the highest pumping consumption in history.Interestingly, this coincided with the month that saw the largest global contribution from renewable energy, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the generation mix. This demonstrates how energy storage is closely linked to the success of the transition to a cleaner system.
In addition to hydraulic pumping, batteries are gradually becoming more important.During 2024, these facilities stored around 11 GWh, which, although still a very small amount compared to pumped storage, is already double the amount recorded in 2023. This is a technology that is in a phase of expansion and that, foreseeably, will play an increasingly important role both at the grid level and in domestic and industrial installations; initiatives such as the second life of the batteries They show practical examples of its use.
Demand behavior by autonomous communities
If the electricity demand in the Iberian Peninsula is broken down by autonomous communities, a general increase can be observed. in most regions during 2024, although with varying degrees of intensity and some cases of decline. The variations are closely linked to the productive structure, the population, and also the impact of electricity prices and efficiency measures.
In the Iberian Peninsula, several regions recorded increases above the national average. of 0,9%. This is the case in Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, Murcia, and Navarre. All of them were above that 0,9%, with increases that in some cases clearly reach or exceed 3%, reflecting greater dynamism in electricity consumption associated with their economic activity and climatic characteristics.
Other regions, such as the Basque Country, Castile and León, and the Community of Madrid, also increased their demand.Although they did so below the peninsular average. Their increases, for example of 0,3%, 0,6% or 0,7%, show a positive but more moderate evolution, in line with a combination of energy efficiency, changes in habits and sectoral composition of their economy.
On the other hand, some communities reduced their electricity consumption compared to the previous year.Andalusia, Catalonia, Extremadura, La Rioja, and the Valencian Community registered slight declines, ranging from -0,01% to just under -1%. These decreases may be related to efficiency policies, greater implementation of self-consumption, changes in industry, and the impact of high electricity prices in recent years.
High electricity prices have prompted energy saving and efficiency measures Both in homes and businesses, many people have opted to install photovoltaic self-consumption systems or adjust their habits to consume more during off-peak hours, while companies have optimized processes and contracts. All of this has a direct impact on the demand registered by the electrical system; that's why it's key. better coordinate aid for photovoltaic self-consumption and facilitate its deployment.
If we broaden our perspective to the entire nation, including the non-peninsular systemsA particular trend is also observed in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla. These areas, due to their electrical isolation and dependence on local generation, tend to show somewhat different demand patterns.
The Balearic Islands returned to positive growth rates in 2024with a 0,3% increase in demand. After several years marked by the pandemic and the fall in tourism, this trend suggests a gradual recovery of activity in the archipelago, which is highly dependent on the service sector.
The Canary Islands maintained their upward trend, although at a somewhat more moderate pace.Demand increased by 0,5%, allowing it to already surpass the consumption levels recorded in 2019, before the pandemic. This is a clear indicator of the economic and tourism recovery in the islands.
In Ceuta, electricity demand registered a slight positive variation of 0,2%.After several consecutive years of decline, this slight rebound indicates a possible change in trend, although the absolute figures remain small due to the size of the system.
Melilla, for its part, continued to grow but at a much slower pace than in previous yearsThis means that demand has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Its evolution highlights the sensitivity of these island and extra-peninsular systems to specific economic and demographic factors.
How demand is represented: actual, forecast and planned curves
The most common way to visualize electricity demand in real time is through a curve graph. where different demand profiles are shown for the same day. In the case of the peninsular system, the system operator presents this data with a resolution of about ten minutes, which gives a very accurate picture of the evolution of consumption.
These graphs usually show an actual demand curve, typically represented in yellow.This line reflects the instantaneous value of the electricity demand being recorded at any given moment. It is, so to speak, a snapshot of the actual consumption of all consumers connected to the system in near real time.
Alongside the actual curve appears the demand forecast, which is usually shown in green.This forecast is prepared by the operator based on historical consumption values ​​in comparable periods (for example, other winter Mondays with similar characteristics), adjusted according to factors such as working days (whether it is a holiday or a working day), weather (extreme temperatures, rain, etc.) and expected economic activity.
The so-called operational time schedule is also incorporated, represented as a stepped red line.This line indicates the scheduled production for the generating units that have been awarded contracts in the day-ahead and intraday markets, as well as in the deviation management and tertiary regulation markets. These latter markets are managed by the system operator to adapt the generation supply to the actual evolution of demand.
Comparing actual, forecast, and planned demand allows for an evaluation of the quality of the forecasts. and the system's responsiveness. When the actual curve deviates significantly from the forecast, it is necessary to resort to adjustment mechanisms and balancing services to maintain grid stability and ensure that there is always enough generation to cover consumption.
Alongside the representation of demand, many graphs incorporate the generation structure that is meeting that consumption.In other words, they show what percentage comes from renewables (wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, etc.), how much energy comes from nuclear power, combined cycle gas turbines, or other fossil fuel technologies, and how much energy is exported or stored using pumped storage. This information provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the electricity system at any given time.
CO2 emissions and emission factors by technology
Each MWh of electricity consumed has an associated volume of CO emissions2 equivalentwhich depends on the technology used to generate it. Therefore, it is common to find data on total emissions produced by the generation fleet and their distribution by energy source on information portals for the electricity system.
To calculate these emissions, each technology is assigned a specific emission factor.This is reflected in official plans such as the Spanish Renewable Energy Plan 2005-2010 and aligned with European decisions such as Commission Decision 2007/589/EC. For example, coal-fired power plants and combined cycle gas turbines have high emission factors, while renewables such as wind or solar power have virtually zero emissions during operation.
The result is that, in near real time, it is possible to know how many tons of COâ‚‚2 are being generated in the Iberian Peninsula's electricity system and what proportion corresponds to each technology. This information is very useful for evaluating the degree of decarbonization of the electricity mix, comparing specific days or periods, and assessing the impact of renewable energy penetration on emissions.
Furthermore, the user can easily correlate peak demand with peak emissionsIf demand spikes during a particular time period and gas-fired power plants or other fossil fuel technologies need to be brought online, emissions associated with that period will increase. Conversely, during periods of high renewable energy production and moderate demand, emissions can fall significantly.
This transparency in real-time demand-related emissions contributes to climate awareness. and it can help consumers, businesses and institutions make more responsible decisions about their consumption schedules, their investments in self-consumption or the contracting of supplies with a greater renewable component.
How to see your home's electricity consumption in real time
Beyond the overall data of the electrical system, each user can check their own consumption in near real timeThis is especially interesting in a context of significant changes in electricity bills, with expensive and cheap time slots that can greatly increase the bill if consumption is concentrated in the most expensive hours.
There are two basic ways to find out how much electricity you are using at home at any given time.The first option is the physical one: if you have access to the electricity meter (for example, in a meter room in the building entrance), you can directly see the power and energy you are consuming. The second option is the digital one: by accessing your electricity distributor's online portal, provided your home has a smart meter that sends data in real time.
By consulting this data digitally, you can not only see instant consumptionbut also other very useful metrics: the power peaks you have reached, daily and monthly consumption, the times when you use the most energy and, in general, a fairly detailed history with which you can analyze your consumption habits.
With this information you can identify when it is most expensive to consume And what appliances or electricity uses are driving up your bill? If, for example, you notice a significant spike in power consumption every time you turn on the oven or air conditioning, you can reorganize your routines or group certain uses during off-peak hours.
Distributors and retailers: who you need to contact
To view your meter reading online, the first thing you need to know is who your energy distributor is.There is often some confusion here, because the company you sign the electricity contract with (your supplier) is not necessarily the same one that distributes the electricity to you.
Distributors are the companies responsible for bringing electricity to your home or business.The networks are owned by the companies and are responsible for their maintenance. Energy retailers, on the other hand, are the ones that sell you the energy, offer you tariffs and additional services, and issue your bill. In Spain, there are hundreds of energy retailers, but far fewer distributors, which are concentrated in a few large companies and several smaller ones.
To check your meter readings, you will always need to access your distributor's website.Not through your energy supplier's website. Although your supplier may have a very comprehensive customer area, direct and detailed access to meter data is managed by the distribution company, which is the one that receives the information from the metering equipment in real time.
If you're unsure who your electricity distributor is, the easiest way to find out is to check one of your electricity bills.It's usually clearly identified on them. You can also use coverage maps to find out which distributors operate in each area, although the most reliable information will always be what appears on your bill.
Requirements to check your online usage
Before registering on your distributor's portal, there are two basic requirements you must meet.The first is to have a smart meter in your home or building, that is, a device capable of sending consumption data to the distributor through remote communications.
The installation of the smart meter does not depend on the individual user.Instead, it's usually organized at the neighborhood association level or through the distribution company itself. If you're unsure whether your meter is a smart meter, you can ask your building association, the property manager, or the distribution company directly.
The second requirement is to register on your electricity distributor's websiteEach company has its own registration system, but in general the process is usually simple and guided. You will need to provide personal and contact information, and in many cases, specific details about your supply point, such as the CUPS code shown on your bill.
The country's main distributors usually ask for a combination of first and last name, identity document, and email address.Mobile phone number and, in some cases, physical address or a scanned copy of an official document. They can also request the CUPS code to link the online account to your specific electricity supply.
Once registration is complete, you usually have to wait around 48 hours for it to be validated.During this time, the distributor verifies that the information provided is correct and that you are indeed authorized to access the meter data. After this validation, you will be able to log in to the portal as usual with your username and password.
What information can you see on your distributor's portal?
Once you have access to your distributor's customer area, you will be able to consult a fairly extensive amount of data. related to your electricity consumption. Although the interface and options vary between companies, almost all offer very interesting common features.
It is common to have hourly and daily graphs that show how much energy you consume at any given time.You can visualize the times when your demand spikes, identify patterns (for example, more consumption at night if you have an electric vehicle or in the afternoon due to the use of cooking and air conditioning) and compare different periods.
It is also common to find information on the maximum contracted power and the actual power demandedThis lets you know if you're overpaying for power you never use, or if you're very close to the limit and risk tripping the circuit breakers when you connect several powerful appliances at the same time.
Among the most useful options is the instantaneous power check.In other words, it lets you know how much energy you're consuming at that very moment. This feature is usually found in specific sections of the website and may be more or less visible depending on the energy provider, but it's what allows you to run direct tests with your appliances.
By viewing your real-time consumption, you can turn appliances on and off to check their impact. in the power demand. For example, when you turn on the oven, the ceramic hob, or an air conditioner, you'll see how the consumption curve rises. This type of home experiment helps you become aware of which appliances are the biggest energy hogs and optimize their use to reduce your bill.
Although each portal has its own design, most also include monthly consumption summaries.These tools include comparisons with previous months, breakdowns by time periods (peak, shoulder, off-peak), and, in some cases, estimates of the economic impact. They are designed so that anyone, without needing to be an energy expert, can better understand how and when they consume electricity.
Checking this data regularly is a good practice for adjusting your consumption habits, assess tariff changes, decide if it's worth installing photovoltaic self-consumption or, simply, avoid surprises on the bill when wholesale prices are strained.
Apps and tools to monitor the electrical system in real time
In addition to official websites and charts, there are specific applications that allow you to closely monitor the electrical system. Spanish in real time. One of them is the app developed by the system operator, which brings together in one place much of the information we have been discussing.
This application typically offers different user profiles, geared towards both consumers and professionals.In consumer mode, the goal is to present information in a simple and educational way, so that anyone can check the status of the system, the contribution of renewables, electricity prices, or associated emissions.
The professional profile expands the level of detail and the type of indicators availableHere you can find more comprehensive data on generation by technology, demand curves, wholesale prices, international electricity exchanges, installed capacity, emissions trends, and more. It is an especially useful tool for companies in the sector, analysts, and individuals with an advanced interest in energy.
Among the categories of information that these apps usually include is electricity demand in real time, generation by technologies, CO emissions2, the installed capacity in the system, exchanges with other countries, wholesale market prices and, in some cases, references to retail prices or signals for the end consumer.
Easy and free access to this data helps to make the operation of the electricity system more transparent. And it helps both individual users and professionals make better-informed decisions. In a context of energy transition and increasing electrification of the economy, being aware of how demand is evolving and how it is being met in real time is almost essential to understanding the current energy landscape.
Ultimately, the combination of official graphics, distributor portals, and mobile applications It allows you to track with considerable accuracy what is happening in the electrical system and in your own home, detect trends, measure the impact of renewables and assess whether you are using electricity in the most efficient and economical way possible.
