Electricity sector in Spain



In 2023, Spain consumed 244,686 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, a 2.3% decline from 2022.

In 2008, Spain consumed 88% of the average electricity consumption for a European Union 15 country. In 2009, Spain exported about 3% of the electricity it produced. The volume of renewable electricity produced in 2009 was 5% greater than in 2004, and accounted for about 26% of the electricity consumption. The share of nuclear power declined notably between 2004 and 2005. The volume of nuclear power per person has declined consistently during 2004–2009.

In 2023, renewable energy sources accounted for a record share of the electricity generated in Spain at 50.4%. In the same year, wind farms overtook gas plants as the main source of electricity generation. Gas plants experienced a decline in share from 24% in 2022 to 17% in 2023.

Electricity per person and by power source
In 2008, Spanish electricity consumption was an average of 6,523 kWh/person. Spanish electricity usage constituted 88% of the EU15 average (EU15: 7,409 kWh/person), and 73% of the OECD average (8,991 kWh/person).Energy in Sweden, Facts and figures, The Swedish Energy Agency, (in Swedish: Energiläget i siffror), Table: Specific electricity production per inhabitant with breakdown by power source (kWh/person), Source: IEA/OECD 2006 T23, 2007 T25  , 2008 T26  , 2009 T25   and 2010 T49.

Mode of production
According to IEA the electricity use (gross production + imports − exports − transmission/distribution losses) in Spain was in 2004 253 TWh, (2007) 282 TWh and (2008) 288 TWh, while the use was in 2008 in France 494 TWh and Germany 587 TWh.

Electricity production from natural gas in 2008 was in Spain 122 TWh, exceeded in Europe only by Russia 495 TWh, United Kingdom 177 TWh and Italy 173 TWh.

Transmission
Red Eléctrica de España operates around 20,000 km each of 400kV and 220kV power lines.

Spain is technically part of the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe. However, in 2014, Spain had an electricity interconnection level (international transmission capacity relative to production capacity) of 2% (below the recommended 10% level), effectively islanding the Iberian Peninsula. The 2 GW HVDC INELEF powerline between Spain and France was opened in 2015.

Renewable energy in Spain


In 2009 Spain produced 13% wind power compare to the use of electricity (794/ 6,145) The wind capacity installed at end 2010 will, in a normal wind year, produce 14.4% of electricity, when the equivalent value for Germany is 9.4%, Portugal 14% and Denmark 24%.