Spain energy mix & electricity

Electricity generation in Spain reached 288 TWh in 2025. That is about 0.9% of the world total, similar to Taiwan. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 22%, with solar power (21.8%), natural gas (21.6%) and wind power (20.4%) all playing major roles.

The renewable share stood at 55.9%, placing Spain 55th of 158 ranked countries. This puts it 22 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Europe (41.6%). That beats the EU-27 average of 47.7%. Because nuclear contributes another 18.8%, the low-carbon share is considerably higher, at 74.6%. Generating one kWh emits about 154 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). The grid is comfortably cleaner than the world average. On carbon intensity, Spain ranks 36th of 158 from the cleanest.

Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been solar power: its output rose by 49 TWh, lifting its share by 16.9 percentage points. Meanwhile coal lost the most ground, down 50.5 TWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 20.8 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 10.7 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 329 to 154 g/kWh, a 53% cut.

Spain has all but eliminated coal power: it supplied 43.1% of electricity at its peak in 1985, against less than 1% now.

Wind and solar together provided 42.3% of electricity (solar 21.8%, wind 20.4%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 1,313 kWh of solar electricity a year, 3.9× the global average. In solar electricity per person, Spain ranks 5th in the world. Wind adds 1,227 kWh per person, the 16th-highest figure of 156 countries. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2009.

Spain generates 6,012 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 1.6 times the global average. Spain is a net exporter, selling 12.8 TWh more electricity abroad than it imports (5% of domestic demand).