Europe / Caspian / CIS
Country profile: Spain
| Location: | Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France |
| Climate: | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
| Terrain: | large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north |
| Size: | 504782 sq. km total (Land area: 499542 sq. km Water area: 5240 sq.km) |
| Population: | 40,491,051 (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally |
| Government: | parliamentary monarchy |
| Capital city: | Madrid |
| Legal system: | civil law system, with regional applications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
Both Spain and Portugal have been members of the European Union (EU) since 1986. EU membership has led to an increased standard of living and economic growth in the Iberian Peninsula and billions of dollars worth of EU structural funds flowing into the two countries. Nevertheless, both countries continue to face economic challenges. Spain's unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, while Portugal has repeatedly exceeded the EU's limits on budget deficits. Economic growth spurred by EU membership has led to increases in energy consumption.
For example, Spain's energy demand has increased over 100 percent since the mid-1970s. The Iberian Peninsula has limited energy resources, so both Spain and Portugal must depend upon imports for the bulk of their energy needs. Attempts to develop domestic energy sources, though, have focused on hydropower and renewables. Both countries have also sought greater integration of the Iberian energy sector through policy coordination and infrastructure projects. The two announced in 2001 that they would create a single Iberian electricity market without limits on transnational ownership or market participation. However, repeated delays have pushed implementation of this market, called Mibel, until October 2007.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 29,350 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 151 million cu m (2005 est.) |
| Consumption: | 1 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 30 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | 175,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) | |
| Imports: | 1 bbl/day (2005 est.) | 31 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
| Reserves: | 157 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 2 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
Spain - recent news
| 21 Sep 23 |
Spain: Nordex Group receives order from Ibereolica for approx. 60 MW in Spain The Nordex Group has received an order for N155/5.X turbines for two wind farms in Spain from the independent renewable energy producer Ibereólica Renovables. The manufacturer is supplying 11 turbines for the 'Aciberos' and 'Padornelo 3' projects with a total capacity of approx. 60 MW. |
| 14 Sep 23 |
Spain: BayWa r.e. awards Nordex Group order for 141 MW in Spain The Nordex Group has obtained an order from BayWa r.e. to supply and install 24 N163/5.X turbines from the Delta4000 series in Spain. The order also includes a 25-year Premium Service contract for maintenance of the turbines. The Cluster Rueda Sur wind farm will be installed near Zaragoza in the autonomous region of Aragón in the north of Spain. |
| 08 Aug 23 |
Spain: Vestas wins 50 MW order in Spain Vestas has received a 50 MW order for a wind project to be located in the northwest of Spain. The order has been placed by Sinia Renovables, the investment arm of Banc Sabadell specialised in renewable power and climate transition assets. |
| 31 Jul 23 |
Spain: Alternus Energy expands footprint in Spain with acquisition of Solar PV projects totalling 32 MWp Transatlantic renewable independent power producer ('IPP') Alternus Energy Group has expanded its project ownership by acquiring a 32 MWp portfolio of Solar PV projects in Valencia, Spain, known as the 'NF Projects'. |
| 15 Jul 23 |
Enphase Energy launches IQ Batteries in Spain and Portugal Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, has started shipping IQ Batteries to customers in Spain and Portugal. This adds to the product’s expanded availability across the European market, including recent launches in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. |
Spain - more news
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