healthier, happier and richer

Total national greenhouse gas emissions as a percentage of global total, 2004 figures

1%

Historical contribution – 1850 to 2000

<1%

Change in annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990

+ 51%

2005 per capita annual greenhouse gas emissions

10 tonnes

Energy used per unit of GDP (compared to USA)

64.5%

Balance of energy sources, 2006

	%
Oil	49
Gas	1.5
Coal	12.5
Nuclear	11
Renewables*	5
Hydro	1.5

* Solar and wind have expanded rapidly since 2006 (see below).

Energy security

Spain has significant coal and uranium deposits, but little oil or gas. So, it is a major energy importer.

Domestic coal is generally more expensive than imported coal. Nevertheless, about eight times as much coal is mined in Spain as is imported (see Country Studies – Energy: Spain).

Spain imports 1.7 million barrels of oil a day, mainly from Nigeria, Russia and Mexico. Gas is imported from Algeria (by pipeline and LNG), Nigeria, Gulf States and Egypt. In 2005, only 0.2% of the gas used in Spain was extracted in Spain (see sedigas: Gas trade between the Mediterranean and the rest of the world, particularly EU).

Electricity generated 2006

	%
Gas	30
Coal	22.5
Nuclear	20
Oil	8
Hydro	10
Wind*	7.5
Biomass + waste	1
Solar*	0.25

* Wind and solar PV have increased dramatically since 2006  (see below).  Between January and November 2009 wind power generated 13.7%, and PV generated almost 3%, according to the Spanish Renewable Energy Producers Association (http://www.appa.es)

Installed wind capacity

Spain has the fourth largest installed wind capacity, after the US, Germany and China.

2002               4.8 Gw

2003               6.2 Gw

2004               8.3 Gw

2005               10 Gw

2006               11.6 Gw

2007               15.1 Gw

2008               16.7 Gw

2009                19.15 Gw

Installed solar capacity

In 2008 Spain became country with the second largest total of solar photovoltaic, overtaking Japan (2Gw) and behind only Germany (5.4Gw).

2005               50Mw

2006               150Mw

2007               700Mw

2008               3.3Gw

Spain also has 63Mw of installed Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants, 389Mw under construction and 2Gw announced or in planning (see CSP Project Review by Marlene O’Sullivan, DLR, March 2009). This makes Spain second in the world, after the US.

In 2005, the Spanish government required all new properties to have solar thermal technology; only Israel had previously done this (see The power of Israeli sunshine).

Electricity – supply and demand

Demand was growing by about 5% a year before the recession. In 2009 it reduced by about 5%.

Much existing generating capacity will be closed in the next few years under the EU Large Combustion Plant Directive. Spain has opted out coal plants equating to 10% of its total generating capacity (see Allianz: UK and Poland top dirty coal List). However, this still means that almost two-thirds of existing coal stations will have to be closed in 2015.

In addition, the socialist government said in its election manifesto that it would not extend the life of Spain’s existing nuclear power stations. However, only one is due to close before 2020 and the government has said that it will not close this one until 2013 – which is after the next general election. The opposition party says that it would extend the plant’s life.

The Iberian Peninsula has relatively weak interconnection links with France.

Fuels used for heat, 2006

	%
Gas	61
Biomass	19
Other	15
Coal	2.5
Oil	2.5

Percentage of agriculture certified as organic

2.87%

Cars per thousand of population

471