Energy Consumption in Spain
Introduction
The energy consumed in Spain every day, both for the industrial sector, as for domestic consumers comes from multiple forms of primary energy sources, from which we get electricity. It is important to consider where these primary energy sources come from, and the value year after year the degree of self-sufficiency that primary energy resources have in Spain.
The energy sector accounts for about 2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. However, this sector has a greater importance than that because it affects all types of economic activities in the country. Historically, this sector has always had a deficit because the shortage of resources in the country.
The Industrial Revolution came late to Spain in comparison to the rest of Europe. The main challenge during that time was to replace British coal with internal production of the product (mainly from Asturias, in the North of Spain).
Nowadays, Spain is still very dependent from other countries in the energy sector. Consumption has also increased rapidly. In 2010, demand for electricity ended up in 259,940 GWh, 3.2% higher than the demand in 2009, the year in which demand dropped considerably as seen in this graph:
In the following diagram we can see the energy mix used in 2010 to meet all the demand of electric power in the country. Then we will analyze all sources of primary energy, both its utilization for the production of electric power, and its origin.
Red Eléctrica de España is the company that owns almost the entire energy high voltage transportation grid.
The main suppliers for the country’s energy are Iberdrola, Endesa, Unión Fenosa, Hidrocantábrico and E.ON.
Nuclear Energy
Currently in Spain there are up to 8 nuclear reactors being exploited scattered throughout the Spanish geography, and that approximately contribute up to 21% of total energy consumed in the country. In this table we can see all these plants, with their
The energy consumed in Spain every day, both for the industrial sector, as for domestic consumers comes from multiple forms of primary energy sources, from which we get electricity. It is important to consider where these primary energy sources come from, and the value year after year the degree of self-sufficiency that primary energy resources have in Spain.
The energy sector accounts for about 2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. However, this sector has a greater importance than that because it affects all types of economic activities in the country. Historically, this sector has always had a deficit because the shortage of resources in the country.
The Industrial Revolution came late to Spain in comparison to the rest of Europe. The main challenge during that time was to replace British coal with internal production of the product (mainly from Asturias, in the North of Spain).
Nowadays, Spain is still very dependent from other countries in the energy sector. Consumption has also increased rapidly. In 2010, demand for electricity ended up in 259,940 GWh, 3.2% higher than the demand in 2009, the year in which demand dropped considerably as seen in this graph:
In the following diagram we can see the energy mix used in 2010 to meet all the demand of electric power in the country. Then we will analyze all sources of primary energy, both its utilization for the production of electric power, and its origin.
Red Eléctrica de España is the company that owns almost the entire energy high voltage transportation grid.
The main suppliers for the country’s energy are Iberdrola, Endesa, Unión Fenosa, Hidrocantábrico and E.ON.
Nuclear Energy
Currently in Spain there are up to 8 nuclear reactors being exploited scattered throughout the Spanish geography, and that approximately contribute up to 21% of total energy consumed in the country. In this table we can see all these plants, with their
References: “Energía nuclear en España” Foronuclear. April 2010 “Estadísticas y balances energéticos” Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. April 2011 “Historia de la energía nuclear en España” Radio Nacional de España. April 2010 “La población española y europea se opone a la energía nuclear” European Comission. “Spain and Portugal lead the way on Renewable Energy Transformation” Renewable Energy World. February 2011. “Reports and Publications Oil reserves” BP Global. “Oligopolio: el juego de la energía” Salvados. La Sexta. November 2012 “Estadísticas y balaces energéticos” Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Spanish National Institute of Statistics, INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística) “La energía hidráulica en España” Twenergy. January 2012