Spain's renewables share at 42.2% in 2022

Endesa wind farm. Image source: Endesa (handout)

Spain generated 42.2% of its electricity with renewables in 2022, closing the year with record wind and solar energy production, low hydro power production due to the lack of rainfall and more natural gas in the mix, according to the latest estimates released by Spanish grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE).

It was a banner year for wind and solar, with wind farms generating 61,255 GWh in the 12 months through December, up 1.2% year-on-year, and solar PV farms boosting production by 32.6% on the year to 27,830 GWh.

Spain’s hydroelectric plants recovered in December, but ended the year with the lowest power production in three decades, REE said. Combined-cycle gas plants led the 2022 power mix with a 24.7% share.

In December, renewables accounted for 45.1% of Spain’s power production, down from 46.9% the month before. Production from all green sources combined dropped by 8.8% year-on-year to 10,120 GWh.

Production details for major technologies are presented in the table:

Technology:	Share in December:	Estimated production in GWh:	year-on-year change:	Share in 2022:
Wind	25.3%	5,661	-18.1%	22.2%
Hydro	12.9%	2,887	13.8%	6.5%
Solar PV	4.9%	1,098	7.3%	10.1%
Solar CSP	0.3%	62	-40.2%	1.5%
Other renewables	1.5%	336	-23.0%	1.7%
Nuclear	23.0%	5,161	31.6%	20.2%
Cogeneration	5.0%	1,115	-48.7%	6.4%
Combined-cycle	19.7%	4,414	-14.4%	24.7%
Coal	3.2%	724	0.6%	2.8%

Spain’s gross demand for electricity dropped by 7.2% year-on-year to an estimated 20,437 GWh in December. Adjusted for temperatures and labour patterns, demand dropped by 6.7%.

Gross demand for the whole year was estimated at 250,596 GWh, down by 2.3% compared to 2021. When adjusted for temperatures and labour patterns, demand was lower by 3.2%.

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