One year of gas dependence in Spain’s power system
Electric utilities in Spain reduced their reliance on burning gas after a period of unusually high consumption. Gas demand from the electricity sector for running combined cycle plants fell by 25 percent, sliding to 9,522 gigawatt hours in November following a year of record activity, according to the balance sheets of Enagás, the operator of the national gas system.
From January through November, gas used to generate electricity rose sharply, reaching nearly 129,900 GWh with increases exceeding 61 percent. Meanwhile, traditional gas demand from households and industry continued a downward trend amid the ongoing energy crisis and the global spiral in gas prices.
After several months of demand doubling or tripling year over year, the cumulative rise in gas consumption for electricity generation this year stood close to 78 percent before last month’s reductions. In the period from January to August, Spain’s electrical system used as much gas in its combined cycles as in all of 2021.
The slower pace of gas-fired power use aligns with a rebound in wind generation. Strong winds enabled wind farms to operate more vigorously, and in November wind power emerged as the leading technology to replace gas plants, marking the highest output from wind since last May.
Electricity generation in November accounted for nearly one third of total energy production in the country, totaling more than 6,700 GWh. Gas-fired plants contributed around 4,800 GWh, about 22 percent of the month’s total supply. Nuclear power remained a stable contributor with a 19.5 percent share, delivering just over 4,200 GWh.
Renewables’ expanded role helped reduce gas output in recent weeks and contributed to the lowest November price in the Spanish electricity market during the current energy crisis since November 2021, at 124 euros per megawatt hour.
Note: The energy mix remains sensitive to weather, imports, and international gas markets, with wind and hydro resources playing pivotal roles in moderating gas demand and electricity prices. The year marks a shift away from gas reliance as renewables expand their contribution and market dynamics evolve.
One year dependent on gas
What unfolded through the summer and into autumn showed a combination of factors pushing the system toward greater use of gas in combined cycles. Drought substantially reduced hydroelectric production, wind output underperformed for several months, and electricity exports to neighboring countries rose to historic highs due to power system imbalances with France and Portugal. The near halt of a large portion of France’s nuclear fleet and drought-driven hydropower challenges in Portugal further tightened the regional supply balance.
Gas-fired plants are expected to remain a central pillar of electricity generation in Spain, anticipated to account for about a quarter of total energy production and to edge past nuclear and wind as the year progresses. The expansion of gas and coal use continues to influence overall emissions, reflecting a broader shift in the energy mix seen in recent years as renewables grow and demand fluctuates with economic activity.
Overall emissions trends show how Spain’s electricity system has faced challenges and opportunities alike. The emissions reductions achieved in previous years benefited from coal declines, the rise of renewable resources, and pandemic-era demand patterns. The current trajectory indicates that gas and coal still play meaningful roles in meeting peak demand and maintaining grid reliability, even as cleaner sources gain ground.