reservoirs

The intense rains of March have filled the reservoirs of Spain with water. Good news for the Light’s Invoice

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In recent weeks, in Spain it has rained so much that the swamps of the peninsular center are so full that they will have to unwind. A news that will directly influence the electricity bill, but for good. With which we never count. When we talk about generation and renewable capacity, the two sources that come to mind are usually solar and wind. However, there are more renewables that provide energy to the electrical system such as hydroelectric plants. This year, in addition, the rains have arrived as a gift because wind energy has failed in its contribution, which has made the hydroelectric take more prominence. How will it affect our light bill? In this situation of incessant rainfall throughout the Spanish territory, which also will lengthen throughout the month of Marchhydroelectric plants have already generated more than 9,000 GWh, which represents a 18.4% of energy mix. In addition, the generation and storage capacity of hydroelectric plants He has reached The 5,599 MW, which represents 20.65% of the total system structure. This contribution is very important to see in the coming months a decrease in light prices. The rain, an ally. This phenomenon will help lengthen the low price period, which is important for homes and companies that fear the increase in rates. Compared to the previous years, and taking into account that this year wind energy He has been failing In their contribution, the rains have become great allies. It can warm up. If we talk about hydroelectric plants, we have to talk about their storage of energy: swamps. Currently, reservoirs in Spain are in Very good situation thanks to the stormwith a generation capacity of 60.90%. In other words, reservoirs have A large amount of energy storedaccording to Miteco data we would be talking about a Total capacity of more than 17,000 MW. To see it with data, the reservoirs have increased their volume by 296 HM³ (1.7% more). In the case of the Alcántara reservoir, One of the great batteries of Tajohas accumulated 257 hm³ of water in a week, which is equivalent to 454 GWh of electricity. Conflict of interest. Although there is an increase in hydroelectric generation due to rains, there is a problem with the Reservoir management. Hydroelectric plants have an economic interest in maximizing their production, which can lead them to make decisions about water unworthy. These cases have even occurred when water reserves should have been used for another use, such as Agricultural irrigation. It will remain to see how companies They store and release water. Forecasts In these days of intense rain and with the arrival of spring we will have to add the thaw of the mountains, so the reservoirs are expected to continue filling. This situation will ensure an even greater hydroelectric production capacity in the coming weeks, prolonging the low price phase. Hopefully enough to be extended, while in the European Commission they solve the issue of Down 5% to VAT In the light invoice. Image | Iberdrola Xataka | We do not have even half a month and Aemet is already registering unpublished records in places like Huelva: the most rainy March

Accumulated sediments are a huge problem for reservoirs. And in the Ebro they have taken drastic measures

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The reservoirs, both those for hydroelectric use and those for consumptive use, are a vital element in the hydrological panorama. However, for some time, experts warn of a problem that is aggravated over time and affects their functionality. He sediment problem. Half year of works. The works initiated last August to recover the drain of the Ebro reservoir will extend, predictably until 2026, according to They have indicated from The Montañés newspaper. The works, in addition to introducing improvements into one of the swamp drains, intend to recover their functionality from the accumulation of sediments in this. The tasks, explains the local newspaper, will require a team of divers for 3.5 meters of accumulated silt next to the drain gates. The works, with a budget of 2.5 million eurosthey will imply the installation in each of the ducts of the security gates with By-Pass and gates for the regulation of flows. The Arija swamp has two drains, one side and the other located in the dam. It is the latter that, as a consequence of the accumulation of sediments, has lost the ability to perform its function. Key reservoir. The Ebro or Pantano de Arija reservoir is a key element in the Ebro hydrographic basin. It is one of the largest reservoirs in this hydrographic demarcation (behind those of Mequinenza and Canelles). Located in the immediate vicinity of the Cantabrian city of Reinosa, the border between this Autonomous Community and that of Castilla y León in the province of Burgos. According to the latest datathe reservoir Albeca now 348 hm³ of water, 64.3% of its capacity (541 hm³). Some data that do not always reflect reality, precisely due to the problem of sediments. Limiting the capacity. The problem of sediments Not only does it affect the functionality of the drains of the reservoirs: they also limit their capacity. Decades of use have led to a significant accumulation of sludge and sediments in the reservoirs, sediments whose volume implies a significant reduction in the storage capacity of the swamps. Estimates of this loss vary significantly, but the most pessimistic talk about a loss of up to 40% of the volume In some basins. A study in 110 reservoirs launched a more optimistic but still alarming estimate, A loss of 5%. The latest rains seem to have helped reverse the drought situation that still affected some areas. However, our ability to prepare for the next drought is limited by this accumulation of sediments in the reservoirs. Where the sediments are missing. As if this were not enough, the problem of the sediments left over on one side is the problem of those missing in another. In this case, In the Ebro Delta. The Ebro delta is nothing more than the result of the accumulation of sediments dragged by the river current. The installation of numerous dams in this hydrographic basin has reduced the arrival of this matter to the mouth, which, together with the natural coastal erosion, has put the delta ecosystem at risk. An ecosystem on which not only depends the local fauna, but also a part of the agriculture and the economy of the region. In Xataka | In a corner of Andalusia the reservoirs are at 94% of their capacity. It seems excellent news, but it is not so much Image | Josu Aramberri, CC by-SA 3.0

In a corner of Andalusia the reservoirs are at 94% of their capacity. It seems excellent news, but it is not so much

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Until a few months ago, drought was a problem that affected almost the entire country, even to the greatest northern areas that saw an important reduction in rainfall and even the introduction of temporary water savings measures. Now the situation has changed, although the threat is still in force in some areas of the country, especially along the Mediterranean coast. Odiel, red and stones, the exception. However, if we look at one of the maps that show us the Situation of Basin Reservoirs Hydrographic, perhaps otherwise what caught our attention. Surrounded by the great hydrographic basins of Guadiana and Guadalquivir, the Odiel basin, red and stones seems to show us a humid anomaly in the south of the Peninsula. The swamps of the basin are, according to the Last data availableat 94.3% of its capacity. This makes it the second largest hydrographic basin, behind the Internal Basins of the Basque Country (95.2%) and ahead of basins such as Galicia coast (87.6%) and the Eastern Cantabrian (83.6%). A figure that contrasts in a striking way with the state of the reservoirs in the hydrographic basins of its surroundings: 48.4% in the Pantans of the Guadiana, 40.5% in those of the Guadalquivir, and 30.5% in Guadalete-Barbate. What happens in this little basin for? Statistical issue? The first thing we can consider is statistics. The Hydrographic Basin of Los Ríos Odiel, Tinto and Piedras is a small basin, both in extension and capacity: the swamps of this Huelva basin can store a maximum of 229 cubic hectometers (HM³). Surrounded by greater extension demarcations, such as those of the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir, the most similar basin in extension in the south would be that of the Guadalete-Barbate. However, the Cadiz basin has A capacity of 1,651 hm³. This fact could justify the anomaly due to pure statistics: less capacity would imply greater ease for filling and emptying, more variability and with it more likely that at some time of time extreme values ​​are achieved. The problem is that the reservoirs of this area have been maintained rather persistent as the most full of the south. Rainfall. One of the reasons why the Odiel, Tinto and Piedras Rivers Basin attracts attention is due to the general contrast with the southern basins of the Peninsula, which in turn is associated with the fact that the South receives less rainfall than the north. Although that is true if we compare the north third with the rest of the country, the truth is that the image It is more complexand Andalusia is a good example of this. In Andalusia it exists A marked difference in rainfall between The Eastern Zone and the rest of the Autonomous Community, especially in the West. The province of Huelva is usually among those that receive the most water, being the north of the province one of the regions that record the most rainfall. To that we must add that 2024 was A slightly more wet year than the average in almost the entire province of Huelva. The beginning of 2025 has exacerbated this trend, with almost the entire province receiving more than double water than average During the month of January. The “dead” reservoir. The reservoirs of the Odiel basin, red and stones receive a lot of water, yes, but also others in Western Andalusia. To explain the phenomenon of this basin, perhaps we also have to attend to emptying. And here we find another determining factor: the reservoirs of this basin do not empty the same ease. The reason is pollution. This basin has a peculiarity, that of reservoirs useless for the contamination of its waters. To illustrate it, the El Sancho reservoir, The “Dead Reservoir” of the Odiel Basin. The waters of this reservoir are extremely acidic, with a pH value close to 3.6, to which high concentrations of toxic metals must be added, as explained In an article for The conversation Manuel Olías and José Miguel Nieto, both experts from the University of Huelva. The reservoir is in a situation of Perennial filling at 82.76%contributing 48 hm³ of waters to the accounts of the reservoirs of a basin that add up to a capacity, remember, of 216 hm³. The problem Nor is it exclusive of the El Sancho reservoir. Complementary explanations. None of the three explanations (size, rainfall and pollution) explains in itself the state of the reservoirs in this basin, but as a whole they can explain the anomaly of this basin and the associated problem. In Xataka | We have been trying to understand why droughts are more destructive than ever. We start having some idea Image | Miteco / Rodelar

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