Renewable energy in Spain has seen fluctuations in its evolution, with ups and downs in consumption and production. Currently, renewable energies surpass other sources, such as nuclear energy, combined cycle plants and coal, in terms of electricity generation. According to the Spanish Electricity Network (REE), in 2017 renewable energies generated 33,7% of all energy consumed. In this article we will delve into the panorama of renewable energies in Spain, how they work and which are the most used currently.
More renewable energies in Spain
Although renewable energies have gained ground in the Iberian Peninsula, 17,4% of the energy consumed in Spain still comes from coal-fired power plants, a highly polluting source. However, approximately one in every three kilowatt hours is generated cleanly and autonomously.
The most widely used renewable energies include solar, wind, hydro and biomass. Solar and wind energy are the ones that show the greatest growth due to the large resources of sun and wind available in Spain. While hydro energy has been a stable source of generation, the use of biomass has increased its use in heating projects such as pellet stoves.
The panorama of conventional energies and their high costs
Conventional energy sources, such as coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants, continue to play an important role, but with high costs associated with external dependence. For example, Spain imports more than 50% of its uranium from countries such as Namibia and Niger, and nearly 50% of its natural gas from countries such as Algeria and Qatar.
Spain's energy deficit has worsened in recent years due to the increase in imports of resources such as oil and gas, which has cost the country more than 33 million euros in imports. Spain is highly dependent on international prices, which creates economic vulnerability in the country. In addition, in 2017 energy imports grew by 18%, while the energy deficit increased by 30,4%, reaching 17 million euros.
This situation is particularly worrying given the abundance of renewable resources in Spain that are being underused.
What does Spain do with imported energy?
Imported energy is essential not only for generating electricity, but also for powering the fleet of vehicles that circulate in the country. Spain has more than 27 million vehicles in circulation, and the use of oil is key to their operation. In addition, this energy is used for industrial processes and to heat and cool offices and homes.
However, after a period of thirteen years of net energy exports, an energy decline began in 2016. Due to the standstill in renewables under the government of Mariano Rajoy, in 2017 Spain increased its energy dependence by 20% compared to the previous year.
Opportunity for renewable energy
Despite the increase in energy dependence, Spain remains one of the countries with the greatest potential for the development of renewable energy in Europe. With a high level of solar radiation and wind resources, the country is in a privileged position to take advantage of these clean energies.
33,7% of the energy consumed in 2017 came from local, non-polluting sources. Specifically, wind energy covered 19,8% of the country's energy needs in 2018, while hydropower generated 13,7%. These figures place Spain as one of the leaders in renewable energy production in Europe.
The Spanish energy mix
The energy mix in Spain for 2018 has shown a favourable trend towards renewable energies, despite the slowdown in previous years. While nuclear energy still accounts for 21,4% of electricity generation, renewables have registered strong growth. Wind and solar energy play a key role, with wind accounting for almost 20% of total generation in 2018.
In addition, other technologies such as biomass and solar thermal have gained importance, although to a lesser extent. In fact, Spain is expected to significantly increase its installed renewable energy capacity in the coming years, with more than 8.000 megawatts of renewable power planned for deployment before the end of 2019, which will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Today, 61,4% of all energy generated in Spain comes from technologies that do not emit carbon dioxide, a key factor in moving towards the decarbonisation of the economy and meeting climate objectives.
With the right impetus, Spain has a great window of opportunity to increase its energy autonomy and become a benchmark in the energy transition in Europe.