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
| 20 Apr 26 |
Spain: GE Vernova to supply workhorse wind turbines for Santa Maria de las Fuentes wind farm in Spain GE Vernova has signed an agreement to provide 15 of its 6.1 MW-158m* workhorse wind turbines to power the Santa Maria de las Fuentes wind farm in Spain, developed by Renovalia. The deal, which was booked in the fourth quarter of 2025, further strengthens GE Vernova’s commitment to supporting Spain’s transition to renewable energy. |
| 10 Apr 26 |
Spain: Nordex Group lands 80 MW contract in Spain Nordex Group received a new order in Spain for initially 80 MW. A customer has ordered 13 N175/6.X turbines for a wind farm in Spain. The order includes a Premium Service for a period of 20 years. The order also provides for the option to expand the wind farm by an additional 40 MW in the future. |
| 09 Apr 26 |
Spain: Galp accelerates renewables diversification with acquisition of 351 MW operational wind portfolio in Spain Galp has agreed to acquire a 351 MW portfolio of operational onshore wind assets located across Spain from Helia Funds, a platform co-sponsored by Plenium Partners and Bankinter Investment, accelerating the Company’s strategy to enhance and diversify its renewable generation base in the growing Iberian power market. |
| 08 Apr 26 |
Spain: Zelestra and EDP sign Spain’s first PPA to hybridise an operational solar plant with battery storage in Cáceres Zelestra, a global, multi-technology, customer-focused, renewable energy company, and EDP, a global energy company leader in the renewable energy sector, have signed Spain’s first power purchase agreement (PPA) to hybridise an operational solar plant with battery storage, marking a major step forward in the country’s energy storage rollout. |
| 31 Mar 26 |
Spain: Plenitude expands electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Spain Plenitude, through its subsidiary Plenitude On The Road, will contribute to the development of the first corridor of ultra-fast charging stations along the AP-9 motorway in the Galicia region, Spain. Following the agreement signed with Autopistas del Atlántico, the company plans to install and operate 42 ultrafast charging points with power up to 300 kW, located in five of the seven service areas along the motorway |
Spain - more news
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