Spain's renewables share drops to 42.1% in Sept

Miraflores solar farm in Extremadura, Spain. Image source: Naturgy (handout)

The renewables share in Spain’s total electricity production fell to 42.1% in September from 46.4% in August, according to the latest preliminary report from Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE).

The September output from renewables was overshadowed by nuclear and combined-cycle gas plants. Solar photovoltaic plants, with a 16% share of the power mix, ended their three-month streak as the most productive of all of Spain’s renewables. They still marked a new accomplishment in September, with the year-to-date production totalling 27,902 GWh on September 5, more than the entire solar PV output in 2022, REE said.

Spain’s wind farm fleet generated 17.3% of the nation’s electricity in September. However, the wind power output dropped by 14.1% year-on-year to 3,600 GWh.

In January through September, the renewables share was 49.4%, led by wind power (21.8%), nuclear (20.7%), combined-cycle gas (17.8%) and solar PV (15.2%).

The table below shows power production figures for major technologies in Spain in September:

Technology:	Estimated production in GWh:	y/y change:	Share in September:
Wind	3,600	-14.1%	17.3%
Hydro	1,075	-6.8%	5.2%
Solar PV	3,327	23.3%	16%
Solar CSP	405	-7.3%	1.9%
Other renewables	294	-13.8%	1.4%
Nuclear	4,565	-5.8%	21.9%
Cogeneration	1,462	97.8%	7%
Combined-cycle gas	4,872	-36.8%	23.4%
Coal	404	-36.1%	1.9%

Spain’s gross demand for electricity in September was estimated at 19,670 GWh, down by 3.1% year-on-year. Adjusted for the effects of working hours and temperatures, demand fell by 2.4%.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

More stories to explore