Natural gas remains one of the main sources of energy in Spain, despite the advance of renewable energies. Over the years, its consumption has fluctuated due to variations in the demand for electricity generation, the climate and other geostrategic and economic factors.
In this article we are going to analyze the Increase in natural gas consumption in Spain and the causes behind this phenomenon. Despite efforts to increase the presence of renewable sources in the energy mix, natural gas continues to play a crucial role, especially for heating in the winter months and electricity generation when renewables are not sufficient.
Higher gas consumption in Spain
In the first quarter of 2017 in Spain, natural gas consumption increased by 8,4% to reach 96.499 gigawatt-hours (GWh)This increase was mainly driven by the cold wave during the month of January, which caused an increase in the use of heating in homes.
This upturn in consumption was also linked to a lower production of renewable energy, such as wind and hydroelectric power, which forced the use of combined cycles and coal to maintain the electricity supply. This makes natural gas an essential source when renewable production is insufficient to meet demand.
Consumption by sectors
Domestic and commercial sector
One of the sectors that stood out in the increase in demand for natural gas was the domestic-commercial market, which grew by 2,3% until March 2017This was a result of the low temperatures during the winter. Interestingly, growth could have been even higher had it not been for the warmer temperatures recorded in the months of February and March 2017 compared to 2016.
Industrial sector
The industrial market has always represented a significant part of gas consumption in Spain. In 2016, industrial demand for natural gas grew by XNUMX%, 3% compared to the previous year, as the economy regained traction. Sectors such as construction stand out, which increased its gas consumption by 1.5%, 11%, particularly in the production of ceramic products. Other sectors that contributed to this growth were the electricity sector with an increase of 9%, services with a 6% and metallurgy increasing its demand by 5%.
Importance of gas for electricity generation
Despite efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, natural gas remains an important support for electricity generation in Spain. In the months of lower wind and hydro production, combined cycles, which use natural gas, play a key role in ensuring supply. In 2016, the demand for natural gas for electricity generation reached XNUMX million 18% of total, while the industrial market occupied the 61% and domestic and commercial consumers accounted for the 21%.
Although in 2016 gas consumption for electricity generation decreased by 3,9%, the role of this energy source became more noticeable at critical moments, as demonstrated by the Record gas consumption in December 2016, when it peaked at 1.445 gigawatt-hours in a single day, mainly due to the reduced availability of nuclear power in France, which increased electricity exports.
Evolution and prices
Gas supply in Spain has had a positive evolution in terms of the number of customers and demand. In 2016, there were more than 7,7 million natural gas customers in the country, which represented an annual net growth of 1,15%. In addition, the liberalized market reached a share of 78% of customers total, which means that most consumers contract their supply through free marketers instead of the regulated tariff (TUR).
The future of natural gas in Spain
Despite the pressure to reduce the use of fossil fuels and the progress in the integration of renewables, natural gas remains an indispensable source of energy in the Spanish energy mix. With a demand that, although variable, remains significant especially at critical times, natural gas will continue to play a key role in both electricity generation and domestic consumption.
In addition, the international context plays an important role, since Algeria remains the main supplier of gas to Spain, representing the 57% of imports in 2016. However, with market developments and new technologies, we are likely to see an even more diversified mix of energy sources in the future.
In short, natural gas remains key to many sectors in Spain, from industry to homes, and despite advances in the field of renewable energy, it remains an essential part of the energy mix, especially in situations of climate emergency or low renewable production.