There is so much energy available in Spain right now that it is allowing you to become an export power

The Spanish electrical system has achieved a milestone by covering 100% electric demand with renewable energy. However, this surplus of clean energy has led to the phenomenon Curtailment to maintain the stability of the network. Even so, it has been possible to export more than ever electricity to neighboring countries.

Renewable boom. In the last three years, Spain has added more than 23,000MW new wind and photovoltaic power. According to the latest monthly renewable APPA report to which has had Pvmagazine access, this impulse has translated into record exports of 1.536GWh, which represents an increase of 84.4% compared to last year.

The data has detailed a clear pattern of energy surplus. France received 1,388 GWH of Spanish electricity, while barely exported 197 GWh to our country. With Portugal the exchange was more balanced, but equally favorable: 775 GWh exported compared to 619 GWh imported. The most striking case is that of Morocco, where Spain sold seven times more energy than it bought, specifically 197 GWh against only 27 GWh received.

In economic terms. The export has generated approximately 81.4 million euros in a single month, calculated on the basis of the average price of 53.09 euros per megavatio registered hour In the OMIE daily market. This figure acquires greater relevance if we consider that Spain already accumulates 41 consecutive months as a net exporter of electricity, a streak that coincides precisely with the period of greater renewable expansion in its history.

Was he planned? Although there is no explicit plan to turn Spain into an energy exporter, the latest promotion policies that pass subsidies and Changing permissions They have created a structural surplus. The authorities already work to optimize surplus management, avoiding the Curtailment (cuts in renewable generation) and prioritizing export when production exceeds national demand.

A lot of export … and import? The European electrical system, It is highly interconnectedbut still with improvement margin. There is an important exception: current exports do not equal energy “savings” for the future. The market operates in real time, with prices that constantly fluctuate according to the supply and demand of each moment.

And another inevitable question. Why don’t the price of light fall in Spain? As mentioned above, the average price of electricity stood at € 53.09/MWh, which is 161.8% more than last year. This apparent contradiction is explained by The Marginalist Price Fixing Systemwhere the most expensive technology necessary at all times – generally the combined cycle plants that work with gas – establish the price for all. Thus, although the renewables produce at very low costs (about € 12/MWh on average), their cheaper is limited by the still necessary presence of gas in the mix, whose average time price reached € 61/MWh in the last month.

There is still a long way. Although there is a great renewable capacity, you also have to think about ways of Store the surplusthink about Intelligent networks with Europe and rethink a long -term sustainable marginalist model. This commitment to Spain for a more sustainable model has positioned the country as an important actor in the European energy market. The challenge is now to convert this technical success to benefits for the national economy and the pocket of consumers.

Image | Pacoqt

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