National electricity demand in August is estimated at 22,250 GWh, a value that is 0.9% higher than the figure registered in the same month last year. After having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, the figure is 1.3% higher than in August last year.

Compared to a pre-pandemic period (August 2019) and after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, national electricity demand has fallen 2.4%.

In the first eight months of 2021, demand is estimated at 171,679.6 GWh, a figure that is 3.6% more than in 2020. Once again, after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, demand is 3.7% higher than in the same period last year.

During the month of August, and according to data estimated at the time of this press release, generation coming from renewable energy sources represented 42.5% of the generation mix nationwide. During the month, the production of green energy was 9,231 GWh, which is 7.7% higher than in August 2020.

With the information available at the time of this press release, wind energy generation in August reached 3,719 GWh, a figure that is 1.2% higher than in the same month last year, and accounted for 17.1% of production nationwide, being the third technology that contributed most to the generation mix during this month, only surpassed by nuclear (23.7%) and combined cycle, which produced 18.8%.

In addition, solar photovoltaic produced 2,391 GWh, 31.6% more than in August 2020, and accounted for 11% of the total generation mix, registering a new all-time high of hourly generation on 5 August between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., with 9,557 MWh.

67% of electricity production in August was obtained using technologies which produce zero CO2 equivalent emissions.
 

Demand for electrical energy in the peninsular electricity system grew 0.5%

Demand for electrical energy in the mainland electricity system in August is estimated at 20,836 GWh, up 0.5% compared to August 2020. After having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, the demand for electricity is 0.9% higher than that registered in the same month last year. 

Compared to a pre-pandemic period (August 2019) and after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, electricity demand on the peninsula has fallen 2%. 

From January to August 2021, electricity demand on the Spanish mainland is estimated at 162,526 GWh, a value that is 3.7% higher than in the same period in 2020. In this case, after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, demand is 3.8% higher than last year.

During August, and according to data estimated at the time of this press release, 44.3% of peninsular generation came from renewable energy sources and 70.5% was obtained using technologies which produce zero CO2 equivalent emissions. For its part, wind energy stood at 3,565 GWh, 1.6% higher than in August last year, and regarding solar photovoltaic, this stood at 2,343 GWh, up 31.7% on the same month in 2020.

Demand for electricity in August increases 11.3% in the Balearic Islands and 4.4% in the Canary Islands

In the Balearic Islands, the demand for electricity in August is estimated at 630,347 MWh, a value that is 11.3% higher than that recorded in the same month last year. After factoring in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, the figure is 11.4% up on that recorded in August 2020.   

Compared to a pre-pandemic period (August 2019) and after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, electricity demand on the Balearic Islands has fallen 11%. 

In the first eight months of 2021, electricity demand in the Balearic Islands is estimated, in gross terms, at 3,692,273 MWh, a figure that is 9.6% higher than in the same period in 2020.

Combined cycle, with 75.6% of the total production in the Balearic Islands, was the leading source of electricity generation in August in the archipelago, followed by diesel engines (9.7%). This month, renewable energy and those technologies which produce zero CO2 equivalent emissions accounted for 5.9% of the share in the generation mix of the Balearic Islands.

Furthermore, during the month, energy transferred via the Spanish Peninsula-Majorca submarine link contributed to covering 6.3% of the electricity demand in the Balearic Islands.

Regarding the Canary Islands, electricity demand is estimated at 743,841 MWh, up 4.4% on that recorded in August 2020. After factoring in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, the figure is 5% higher than that registered in the same month last year.

Compared to a pre-pandemic period (August 2019) and after having factored in the influence of seasonal and working patterns, the demand for electricity in the Canary Islands has fallen 5.6%. 

From January to August 2021, electricity demand in the Canary Islands is estimated, in gross terms, at 5,191,486 MWh, a figure that is 1.5% less than in the same period in 2020.

In the Canary Islands, combined cycle, with a share of 39.8% of the total mix, was the leading source of electricity generation in August, while renewables and those technologies which produce zero CO2 emissions represented 24.7% of the total generation.

Consult our Daily Balance Report for more information on the National, Peninsular, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands electricity systems as at the close of August.