Solar leads Spain's renewables surge, production up 16.4% in May

Guadacano solar farm in Malaga province. Image source: Ignis (www.ignis.es)

Spain’s renewables produced 13,520 GWh of electricity in May, increasing output by 16.4% year-on-year, Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE) said its first estimates report on Monday.

The share of renewables in the country's total production in May reached 63.0%, climbing down from the estimated 64.6% in April.

Photovoltaic solar accounted for 23.8% of the total, rising for the first time in history to the top of Spain’s monthly power mix. These plants generated 5,098 GWh, up by 31.6% year-on-year, reaching record highs in terms of production and share, REE said.

Additionally, solar PV set a new daily production record on May 24 with 199 GWh, accounting for 29% of the total electricity generation for that day.

Ending their seven-month streak as Spain’s top power producers, wind farms ranked as the second largest renewable energy technology in May, contributing 20.2% of the total. Nuclear power and hydro followed with a 16.5% and 14.3% share, respectively.

REE’s provisional figures for renewables and selected non-renewable energy technologies are presented in the table below:

Technology:	Estimated generation in GWh:	y/y change:	Share in May:
Wind	4,334	-20.7%	20.2%
Hydro	3,066	120.2%	14.3%
Solar PV	5,098	31.6%	23.8%
Solar CSP	650	30.0%	3.0%
Renewable waste	51	12.7%	0.2%
Other renewables	317	-6.4%	1.5%
Nuclear	3,538	-5.4%	16.5%
Cogeneration	1,355	-20.1%	6.3%
Combined-cycle gas	1,905	-42.8%	8.9%
Coal	234	-2.3%	1.1%

National electricity demand increased by 1.7% compared to May 2023, reaching 19,432 GWh gross. After adjusting for temperature and working hours, national electricity demand rose by 1.1% year-on-year.

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