Spain falls by 3% in terms of renewable energy consumption
31 de July de 2017
31 de July de 2017
EAE Business School is pleased to present its report entitled A Renewable Future: Europe's Challenge on the way to 2020, which reveals that in Spain, in 2015, consumption of renewable energies fell by 3.11% of the total energy consumed, while, in Europe, the level rose by 9% compared to the previous year to reach 13% of the primary energy source consumed. Renewable energies are the third most consumed energy sources in Spain, accounting for 13.9% of total energy consumed, following oil at 42.2% and gas at 19.9%. These statistics coincide with a dramatic drop in oils prices, which has led to greater consumption of this energy source and a fall in renewable energies. Trailing at the bottom of the list as energy sources in Spain, we find nuclear energy, at 12.1%, and coal, at 11.7%.
In terms of the types of renewable energy type and their contributions to GDP, the report shows that the energies that made the largest contribution proportionally, at the end of 2015, were photovoltaic energy at 32.75%, wind power at 21.12%, solar thermoelectric at 16.45%, biomass electricity at 16.30%, biofuels at 5.90% and mini-hydraulics at 4.74%, while all other sources account for 2.74%. Despite the slight decrease in the contribution to GDP recorded since 2012, the sector has enough capacity and potential to account for 1% of Spanish GDP.
In order to achieve Spain's target of 20% of energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020, as stipulated in the Europe 2020 targets, the government has approved three royal decrees to transform the current energy system into an increasingly cleaner model. It will spend 336 million euros on increasing renewable energy efficiency, launching a new renewable energy auction and promoting electric transport.
RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN EUROPE
In Europe, renewable energy consumption accounts for 13% of the primary energy source consumed, which is a similar level to Spain. In total, nine stated have already reached and surpassed the target set for Europe 2020, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Norway, Romania and Sweden. In contrast, countries such as Hungary, Ireland, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are yet to reach the targets set.
Spain ranks fourth in the world in terms of renewable energy capacity installed per capita (excluding hydropower). In this respect, Spain has made high levels of investment in infrastructure and machinery for generating energy from renewable sources, almost to the point of becoming a world leader in terms of the capacities installed. However, national consumption of renewable energies compared to renewable generation capacity continues to fall, with the only lifeline being exports.
General conclusions: