Spain's Electricity Demand to Rise Nearly 2% Annually to 2030, Fueled by Renewables and Industrial Growth
The IEA projects Spain's electricity demand to grow nearly 2% annually until 2030, driven by renewables, industrial growth, and infrastructure investments.
- • Spain's electricity demand to grow nearly 2% annually through 2030.
- • Solar and wind energy capacities projected to grow by 13.5% and 8.5% annually.
- • Nuclear power capacity to fall to 3 GW due to plant closures.
- • €13.6 billion planned investment in grid and storage infrastructure by 2030.
Key details
The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a robust increase in Spain's electricity demand, expecting a nearly 2% annual growth through 2030. This is a significant jump compared to the 0.4% average annual growth seen over the past decade. The steep rise is driven by expanding industrial activities, the growing electrification of heating systems, and thriving tourism sectors, with demand growing by over 3% in 2025 alone following a 2.3% increase in 2024.
Renewable energy capacity is set to power much of this growth, with solar photovoltaic and wind energy expanding at annual rates of 13.5% and 8.5% respectively between 2026 and 2030. As of 2025, Spain's solar capacity reached 39.4 GW and wind capacity stood at 33.2 GW, while coal has nearly been phased out, accounting for just 1% of electricity generation.
However, nuclear power capacity is expected to decline to 3 GW by 2030 due to scheduled plant closures. The report emphasizes the crucial need for investments in energy storage and grid infrastructure—highlighted by a major blackout in April 2025—to ensure grid stability and to better integrate renewable energy sources. Spain aims to achieve 22.5 GW of energy storage capacity by 2030, supported by planned investments of approximately €13.6 billion for grid enhancements and interconnections.
According to the IEA, Spain's clean energy market remains dynamic and pivotal for the country's energy transition strategies, underlining the shift to a more sustainable and secure electricity network.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
