🇪🇸 Spain Energy Profile ~57% Renewables (2023) Nuclear Phase-Out 2035
~30 GW installed
~25 GW installed
(variable with drought)
Phase-out by 2035
backup for RE
by 2030 (NECP)
Spain Electricity Mix (2023)
Renewable Share Growth (%)
2023 Milestone: First Country to Sustain 50%+ Renewables Annual Average
In 2023, Spain generated approximately 50% of its electricity from renewable sources (wind + solar + hydro) over the full year — making it one of the first large continental European economies to achieve this milestone. Individual days saw 100%+ renewable generation. Spain's grid operator REE reported 2023 as the year with the lowest CO₂ intensity in the country's history: ~95 g CO₂/kWh.
Spain Wind Capacity by Region (GW)
EU Wind Leaders — Installed Capacity (GW)
Spain — Europe's Wind Pioneer
Spain has been building wind farms since the early 1990s — one of the earliest adopters in Europe. Iberdrola (world's largest wind developer), EDP Renewables, and Naturgy have built massive onshore fleets across Castilla y León, Galicia, Aragón, and La Mancha. With ~30 GW installed, Spain is #2 in EU (after Germany).
Offshore wind: Spain has minimal offshore wind currently (~25 MW) due to its mostly deep continental shelf waters. However, floating offshore wind technology (pioneered by Equinor, Iberdrola) is being piloted in the Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean. The government targets 3 GW floating offshore wind by 2030.
Spain Solar Capacity (GW, cumulative)
Spain Solar Irradiance vs EU Peers
Spain's Solar Renaissance
Spain had an early solar boom (2007–08) driven by excessive FIT subsidies, followed by a brutal retroactive subsidy cut in 2013 that caused massive investor losses and effectively killed new development for five years. The "solar tax" on self-consumption was also introduced in 2015 (revoked 2018). Since 2018, market-based auctions have reignited solar growth — Spain added 9 GW in 2023 alone, making it Europe's fastest-growing solar market.
Spain Nuclear Plants — Capacity and Closure Dates
Nuclear vs Renewables Generation Trajectory (TWh)
Spain's Nuclear Phase-Out — Managed Decline
| Plant | Capacity | Closure Date | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almaraz I | 977 MW | 2027 | Iberdrola/EDP/Naturgy |
| Almaraz II | 980 MW | 2028 | Iberdrola/EDP/Naturgy |
| Cofrentes | 1,092 MW | 2030 | Iberdrola |
| Ascó I | 1,033 MW | 2030 | Endesa/Iberdrola |
| Ascó II | 1,027 MW | 2032 | Endesa/Iberdrola |
| Vandellós II | 1,087 MW | 2035 | Endesa/Iberdrola |
No replacement: Unlike France (which is building new nuclear) or UK (Sizewell C), Spain has no plans for new nuclear. The government views the phase-out as compatible with its 2030 renewable targets, but grid reliability experts warn that removing 7 GW of firm generation requires very large battery storage additions.
National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2023
| Target | 2030 Goal |
|---|---|
| Renewables share (electricity) | 74% |
| GHG reduction | 32% vs 2005 |
| Final energy from renewables | 42% |
| Energy efficiency improvement | 39.5% |
| Renewable capacity (total) | ~160 GW (solar 76 GW, wind 62 GW) |
| Battery storage | 22 GW by 2030 |
| Green hydrogen | 12 GW electrolyzer capacity |
H2Med / BarMar: Spain and Portugal are building the BarMar pipeline — a hydrogen corridor from the Iberian Peninsula to France and Germany — to export renewable hydrogen to energy-hungry northern European industry. The €2.5B project, co-financed by EU, aims to position Spain as Europe's clean hydrogen supplier.
Economic Profile
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GDP | ~$1.65 trillion | 15th globally; strong recovery post-COVID |
| Clean energy employment | ~200,000 | Wind, solar, manufacturing, services |
| Iberdrola market cap | ~€70B | World's largest wind developer; Spanish multinational |
| Electricity cost (residential) | ~30 c/kWh | High vs US; includes taxes, TSO charges |
| Energy import dependence | ~75% | Mostly LNG, oil; renewables reducing dependence |
| Solar export potential | H2Med by 2030 | Iberian hydrogen could supply 10% of EU hydrogen demand |