Report on the evolution of renewable energy generation Peninsular electricity system (September 2023)

Grupo de trabajo de energía ICAE

Rafael Salas y Miguel Sebastián

Foreword

During this year, several records of renewable generation have been registered in Spain. This fact is significant due to the multiple benefits associated w

ith energy generation, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening energy security, and job creation in the renewable energy sector. Additionally, renewable technology has the potential to lower electricity prices as the marginal supply costs decrease.

Summary

• Renewable power generation

• Photovoltaic power generation

• Wind power generation

• Hydroelectric power generation

• Pumping hydro power generation

• Natural gas power generation

• Biomethane generation incorporated in the gas network

• Appendix: photovoltaic installed capacity, electricity net exports

Data Sources

• REData, REE (www.ree.es)

• Peninsular System

• Definite data 1-1-22 to 30-06-22

• Provisional data 1-7-22 to 31-12-22

• Programmed data 1-1-23 to 30-9-23

• Enagás: Boletín Estadístico del gas

 

• It is observed an increase of renewable power generation of all months of 2023, increasing to 59% of total generation in January (64% of total demand). 

• As of September 2023, there has been a cumulative renewable power generation increase of 12.2% and it accounts for 51% of total generation in the year-to-date figures.
• Renewable power generation is expected to exceed 50% by the end of the year, according to predictions by the Spanish Electricity Grid Operator (REE).
• It accounts for around 56% of total demand.

       

       

• On a 12-month basis, the renewable energy sources continue to steadily maintain an increasing trend in the Spanish energy mix, up to 49% of total generation and 55% of total demand. Total share of demand exceeds the share of generation, primarily due to the existence of positive net exports and pumping consumption. (See Appendix for net exports.)

• In 2023, there has been a continuous growth in photovoltaic power generation, with an increase up to 20% of total generation in July and August (21% and 22% of total demand, respectively). In August, it accounted for 21.8% of total demand.
• Photovoltaic power generation has become the second-largest source of electricity production in July and in August 2023, surpassing natural gas and wind power generation (details provided below). 
• The reason is the increase around 4.000 MW of installed power in a year as shown in Graph 1 and in the figure 19 in the Appendix. 

• As of September 2023, there has been a cumulative increase of 32.8% in photovoltaic power generation in the year-to-date figures.

• On a 12-month basis, photovoltaic power generation continues to steadily increase, due to the increase of the installed capacity.

• In the summer 2023, there was a decrease in wind power generation due to lower-than-normal wind conditions.

• As of September 2023, there has been a moderate cumulative increase of 0.4% in wind power generation in the year-to-date figures.

• Wind power generation continues to steadily maintain its position as the primary source of power generation in the Spanish electricity mix (around 24% of total generation).

• In July 2023, hydro power generation experienced an increase due to higher-than-normal precipitation levels from mid-May onwards. This contrasts the reduction observed last year due to existing drought conditions. 

• As of September 2023, there has been a cumulative increase of 24.8% in hydroelectric power generation in the year-to-date figures. This is attributed to a more favorable hydraulic year compared to the previous year.

• In 2023, there has been a significant increase in pumping hydro power generation. 
• This growth can be attributed to the increased need for storage capacity to accommodate the surplus generation from solar and wind sources. 

• As of September 2023, there has been a substantial cumulative increase of 49.9% in pumping power generation in the year-to-date figures.

• On a 12-month basis, pumping power generation has now emerged as the fourth renewable source of power in the Spanish energy mix, surpassing thermal solar and biomass. It follows wind, photovoltaic solar, and regular hydro power in terms of contribution o the Spanish mix.

• As of September 2023, there has been a substantial cumulative decrease of 33.2% in natural gas power generation in the year-to-date figures.

• On a 12-month basis, the trajectory of natural gas power generation is shifting towards a decreasing trend, to reach an 18% share of the overall generation.

• As of September 2023, there has been a cumulative increase of 24.8% in hydroelectric power generation in the year-to-date figures. This is attributed to a more favorable hydraulic year compared to the previous year.

• On a 12-month basis, there is a steady increase of the biomethane generation to reach a share of 0.21% of the total natural gas in the electric sector.

Appendix