Renewable energy in Spain - statistics & facts
The use of renewable energy is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. With the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the Spanish energy sector is undergoing a rapid transition. For instance, the renewable auctions planned by the Spanish government will award at least 2.9 gigawatts of renewable energy per year to interested parties until 2026. It is estimated that by 2030, the total renewable capacity will amount to more than 120 gigawatts. In 2022, the total consumption of renewables in Spain, excluding hydropower, stood at roughly 1.04 exajoules.
In the next years, renewables are forecast to continue growing in Spain. Specially in the electricity sector, where renewable energy is rapidly increasing its share. By 2030, Spain plans to generate at least 76 percent of electricity using renewable technologies such as wind and solar.
Use of renewables by sector
Most of the renewable energy consumed in Spain is used in electricity generation, while the transportation and the heating and cooling sectors hold smaller shares. With regards to electricity, renewable generation reached a share of 50.3 percent in 2023, the highest figure ever recorded in the country. Furthermore, in 2019, the renewable power capacity installed exceeded that of non-renewable for the first time. As of end of 2023, the renewable capacity in the country reached almost 76 gigawatts, more than 60 percent of the country's total electrical power capacity.Renewable generation technologies
Hydropower has traditionally been the main resource of renewable energy in Spain. In 2009, however, this technology was surpassed by wind power, which has ranked first ever since and held a share of over 46 percent of renewable generation in 2023. Additionally, solar energy has registered record-breaking values in recent years, with utility-scale photvoltaics and solar thermal power generation reaching about 37.3 and 4.7 terawatt hours, respectively. Other renewable technologies used in the country include waste, biogas, marine, and geothermal energy. These, however, accounted for less than five percent of the total renewable generation in 2023.In the next years, renewables are forecast to continue growing in Spain. Specially in the electricity sector, where renewable energy is rapidly increasing its share. By 2030, Spain plans to generate at least 76 percent of electricity using renewable technologies such as wind and solar.
