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
| 10 Dec 25 |
Spain: Zero-waste repowering - RWE commissions its Muel wind farm in Aragon RWE has commissioned its new Muel wind farm, located in the Aragon region near Zaragoza, Spain. Modern turbines for a higher green energy yield: from 27 to 3 turbines; total installed capacity to increase from 16.2 MW to 19.97 MW. Number of Spanish homes supplied to increase from 9,400 to 21,000. Bureau Veritas certifies ZeroWaste. |
| 09 Dec 25 |
Spain: Plenitude drives its expansion in Spain with the start of operations at the Caparacena 150 MW solar plant Plenitude has inaugurated the Caparacena solar project in Chimeneas (Granada). The project, one of the most significant in the company’s portfolio in Spain, covers 264 hectares and comprises three photovoltaic parks of 50 MW each. |
| 26 Nov 25 |
Spain: RES signs its first services contract with Matrix Renewables and boosts its solar growth in Spain RES has signed its first operation and maintenance (O&M) contract with Matrix Renewables. The contract covers the O&M of more than 300 MW of photovoltaic power distributed across five Spanish provinces and strengthens the company’s presence in Andalusia and Extremadura, as well as consolidating its position in Castile and León, a key region in the national solar expansion. |
| 25 Nov 25 |
Spain: Zelestra and ECODES collaborate with Microsoft to deliver clean energy and social impact in Aragón, Spain Zelestra, a global renewable energy company, has announced a new collaboration in Aragón, Spain, with ECODES and Microsoft to boost social and environmental community investment in the region. |
| 25 Nov 25 |
Spain: Nordex Group wins new order from Grupo Enhol for 34 MW for the repowering of a wind farm in Spain The Nordex Group has secured a new order from its long-standing customer Grupo Enhol for the supply and installation of six N163/5.X wind turbines in Navarra, Spain. The repowering project Caparroso will have a total installed capacity of 34.2 MW. |
Spain - more news
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