The renewables were supposed to lower the electricity bill in Spain. At the moment it continues to go up

Before the blackout of April 28, the numbers in the production of solar energy reached amazing levels: Spain was 100% renewable. After the situation, Spain shines again exceeding 10,500 GWh of generation in July with solar and wind energy. However, not everything is good news because an energy paradox appears to solve: why has electricity not been cheaper?

A green record that does not show in the pocket. According to provisional Red Electricity data (REE) published by the energy analyst Pedro Catuelin July more than 10,500 GWH per month were reached combining solar and wind generation. The graph disseminated by Catuel in its social networks makes it clear: Spain is producing more clean energy than ever.

But while the sun shines and the wind blows, the cost of electricity rises again. In mid -July, the average price of light stood at € 164.06/MWh, According to Ree figures collected in Xataka. Getting down to € 102.85/MWh the day after that figure, but only for an hour was really affordable. And there is the paradox: with more renewable than ever, The price should lowerbut it doesn’t.

If there are more renewable, why do we pay more? The answer is technical, structural and political at the same time. As we have already explained in Xatakaduring the noon – when the solar generation is maximum – there is a surplus of energy and the price collapses. However, when the sun falls and there is still demand, the system needs firm support. And that support today does not give the renewables: gas enters. And with him, the bill was the one who shot the price.

To this time dependence is added another problem: the lack of storage. A good part of the renewable energy generated cannot be saved or transferred efficiently and ends up losing. Electric Red has confirmed that in some points of the network up to 30 % of the renewable generation due to infrastructure saturation has been wasted.

And as if this were not enough, since January it has re -applied the complete VAT of 21 % to electricity, after years of reduced by the energy crisis. This, added to the increase in natural gas in international markets, has further increased the invoice, As the Nordy marketer has alerted in his analysis of the rise in light in 2025.

There is a turn of events. It is true that VAT has risen and there is an obvious lack of storage. However, since July 15, Spain It has been three weeks without generating electricity from coal. It is the first time that happens in more than 140 years, where this source was also functioning as a support element.

According to The Energy newspaper has detailedthe latest thermal plants – Boño, Soto de Ribera and Los Barrios, all of EDP – have been out of operation. Only Alcudia (in the Balearic Islands), as a timely reserve.

Generation structure with/without CO2 eq emissions. (GWh) | Source: Red Electrica España

So will prices go down? The intention is, but the execution encounters politics. Royal Decree-Law 7/2025, which collected key measures to avoid future blackouts and reinforce the network, was rejected in Congress On July 22, with 183 votes against. The standard included self -consumption incentives, more control over electricity and an impulse to energy storage.

Without that legal framework, the Spanish electrical system remains vulnerable and rigid. There is a clear saturation: only 1 in 10 new facilities manages to access the network, although there is unused technical capacity. In the medium term, the government expects to launch capacity auctions before the end of the year, to keep gas plants as support as batteries and other technologies. But this, as the employers of the sector warn, will take time.

The route map is more than clear. And the road is quite long: more storage, intelligent networks, decentralization, demand management. The challenge is not only to generate more renewable energy, but make it useful when it is most needed. And that requires investment, infrastructure and political decisions.

Meanwhile, the paradox continues: we have cheap energy at noon, but we cannot use it at night. The invoice, as always, does not expect.

Image | HPGRESEN

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