The Spanish Ministry of Industry calculates that in 2020, renewable energies will contribute 22.7% of gross final energy consumed in Spain, with is almost three percentage points above the target set for its member states by the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, it estimates that 42.3% of electricity consumed in Spain in 2020 will be generated using renewable resources. This figure also exceeds the 40% target set by the EU. According to the Ministry of Industry, “this surplus could be transferred to other European countries that are unable to meet their objectives, through the flexibility mechanisms established in the EU’s Renewable Energies Directive”.
According to the Ministry, the 2011-2020 National Renewable Energies Action Plan is currently “being prepared”, and therefore the scenario and objectives for each renewable technology for this period “could be revised”. the Ministry also stated in the press release published last week that the energy map for 2020 has been drawn up taking into account "changes in energy demand in Spain, higher petroleum prices compared to those in the 1990s, and the substantial intensification of energy saving and efficiency plans”.
The Ministry estimates that, on average, renewable energies will contribute 15.5% in 2012 (compared to the figure of 11.0% provided for guidance purposes in the indicative trajectory) and 18.8% in 2016 (compared to 13.8% in the indicative trajectory). In order to make use of the estimated surplus renewable energy and taking into account that – according to the Ministry’s estimates – “around two thirds of the renewable energy generated in 2020 will not be manageable", the Ministry calls for “increased investment in interconnections between the Spanish electricity grid and the European electricity system; an issue that has been stressed in the report issued to Brussels”.
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