Energy sector in Spain - statistics & facts
Spain’s energy sector is in the midst of a transition, with renewables experiencing a trend of rapid growth. The country ranks among the leading renewable energy consumers worldwide, having used more than one exajoule of renewable energy in 2022. However, Spain still sources approximately 70 percent of its primary energy from fossil fuels, the majority of which are imported from overseas. Spain’s dependency rate on energy imports stood at roughly 74 percent in 2022, meaning that the country imported almost three-quarters of the total primary energy consumed, while only 25 percent came from domestic sources.
Spain is in the midst of a transition to a decarbonized energy sector. Although renewables are growing rapidly, fossil fuels still have a big presence in the country, especially in the transportation and heating and cooling sectors. By 2030, in line with European targets, Spain must reach an overall renewable energy consumption share of at least 42.5 percent by 2030.
Wind: leading source in Spain’s electricity mix
Electricity is one of the main sources of final energy in Spain. In 2023, the demand for electricity in the country stood at 245 terawatt hours, the lowest figure registered in the last decade. Renewables accounted for over half of the total electricity production in 2023, with wind alone responsible for almost a quarter of the total power generated. Nuclear energy, combined cycle power plants, and solar PV are also big contributors to the Spanish electricity mix. The country’s seven active nuclear reactors produced more than 20 percent of the total electricity in 2023, while combined cycle plants held a share of 17 percent. Solar photovoltaic has been the fastest-growing technology in the last years. In 2023, utility-scale solar PV capacity rose to 24.6 gigawatts, an increase of almost 25 percent when compared with the previous year.Consumption of fossil fuels in Spain
Although the use of fossil fuel energy in Spain is decreasing in favor of cleaner alternatives, hydrocarbons remain vital to the country’s economy. Petroleum derivatives such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, among others, accounted for roughly half of Spain’s final energy consumption. Natural gas is also widely used for heating and electricity generation across the country. In 2022, the total consumption of natural gas reached 33 billion cubic meters. In contrast, coal use has drastically declined in the last years. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Spain closed all its coal mines at the end of 2018. Coal-fired power plants are also planned to be completely phased out by 2025.Spain is in the midst of a transition to a decarbonized energy sector. Although renewables are growing rapidly, fossil fuels still have a big presence in the country, especially in the transportation and heating and cooling sectors. By 2030, in line with European targets, Spain must reach an overall renewable energy consumption share of at least 42.5 percent by 2030.
