• Spain remains the European leader in renewable energy production.
• The country faces infrastructure challenges that limit sustainable expansion.
• Investment in new technologies such as green hydrogen continues to grow.
Before renewable energy, a combination of economic, demographic, climate change and technology initiated a global transformation of the energy system. This creates opportunities for business, jobs and economic profitability that were unimaginable a decade ago, supported and socially accepted under one of the most recognized labels: sustainability.
Around the world, many countries are investing billions of dollars to install renewable energy due to the clear benefits they bring. This investment not only improves energy efficiency, but also reduces reliance on fossil fuels and minimizes the carbon footprint. We can see these developments in the report Ren21 "Renewable Energy 2015 - Global Status Report", which highlights the exponential growth of the global renewable energy industry.
Investment in renewable energy, 2004-2014
Global investment in renewable fuels and energy in both developed and developing countries has grown significantly in recent years. In 2014, Spain was one of the world's seven leaders in renewable energy generation capacity, especially in the energy sector wind. However, investment has decreased over the past three years and installed capacity has remained unchanged.
Despite the stagnation between 2012 and 2014, we remain an excellent producer of renewable energy. But what happens when we fail to increase renewable power generation capacity and rely on fossil energy consumption to meet demand?
2015 Spain and renewable energy.
A 2015 survey by the Spanish Red Electricity Company shows that, unfortunately, Spain consumes less renewable energy and more coal and gas compared to the previous year. The reasons include changes in hydropower and wind power generation, which fell by 28,2 percent and 5,3 percent, respectively. Despite this, wind power remains one of the main sources of electricity in key months such as October and October
The impact of increased carbon dioxide emissions
Increased consumption of fossil fuels leads directly to carbon dioxide emissions. According to Greenpeace, Spain had to pay more than 10 billion euros extra for carbon rights in 2015 due to increased emissions. Between 2008 and 2012, the state spent more than $80 billion to buy these rights, highlighting the lack of renewable energy investment in the critical years.
This money, which could have been invested in increasing renewable energy generation, was wasted by paying for the right to pollute. If we had made the right investments between 2012 and 2014, today we could enjoy much greater wind and solar capacity, saving millions of CO2 emission rights and significantly improving our ecological footprint.
2016-2017 Panorama
Despite efforts to promote consistent energy policies, 2016 and 2017 are expected to follow a similar trend to 2015, with stagnant renewable energy production and increased fossil fuel use. Society is consuming more and more electricity, and the current infrastructure cannot manage electricity sustainably without significant investment in renewable energy.
Renewable energy future in Spain: Challenges and opportunities
Today, Spain remains the benchmark in the field of renewable energy, but maintaining this leading position to overcome economic and infrastructure challenges is essential. According to the latest EY report, Spain remains one of the most attractive countries for clean energy investment, with a strong performance in terms of power purchase agreements (PPA). However, challenges such as grid constraints and high infrastructure costs have limited progress.
With the development of advanced BESS (Battery Storage System) systems, these technologies are also booming. These are essential to improve grid stability and optimize the use of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Global battery storage capacity is expected to quadruple by 2030, and Spain is no exception. In the field of thermal and Marine renewable energy, significant investments are also being made in geothermal, heating and cooling networks and Marine energy demonstration projects, with an increasing focus on biogas and other alternative fuels.
New technologies such as green hydrogen, while still expensive, offer a huge opportunity. With planned investments of more than €203 billion by 8.900, green hydrogen could decarbonize industrial sectors that are difficult to electrify.
Spain remains a privileged destination for renewable energy investments due to its favourable climate, strategic location and continued innovation in the energy sector. However, it is vital that governments and businesses continue to ramp up investment in renewable energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and prioritise adequate infrastructure for the country's energy future.
Spain faces challenges, but also great opportunities. With adequate support and a clear vision for the future, the country can consolidate its position as a world leader in the energy transition towards a more sustainable and cleaner model.
