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Spain gets most electricity from wind in March

Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:50pm GMT

 * March demand 22,799 GWh, up 0.1 pct yr/yr

 * Q1 demand 67,774 GWh, up 1.1 ct yr/yr

MADRID, March 31 (Reuters) - Spain's wind parks provided the biggest share of the country's electricity and helped reduce its heavy dependence on gas imports, data from national grid operator REE (REE.MC: Quote) showed on Thursday.

Wind power accounted for 21% of Spain's generation mix by producing 4,738 gigawatt-hours, a monthly record for technology of this type in Spain.  Spanish wind power association AEE separately said its members produced enough in March to supply the electricity needs of neighbouring Portugal.

Renewable energy sources between them accounted for 42.2% of all electricity generated, which REE said was below a 2010 average of 48% because hydroelectric output had fallen.

Overall demand for electricity in Spain grew by a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in March from the same month in 2010. Spain has invested billions of euros in subsidies to encourage the development of renewables, in order to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuel imports.

Spain is the world's eighth-largest natural gas importer, and the third-largest of liquefied natural gas.

Wind power can be sold more cheaply on the wholesale market than electricity produced by gas-fired generators, so it weighs on power prices.

Following is a breakdown of Spain's generating mix in March, as provided by REE:

 SOURCE          SHARE

 Wind            21.0%

 Nuclear         19.0%

 Gas             17.2%

 Coal            12.9%

 Hydro           17.3%

 Co-generation   15.0%

 Coal            12.9%

 Solar            2.6%

 Exports         -3.4%

 Pumping losses  -1.6%

* Co-generation plants differ from conventional plants because they recover and make use of waste heat. They are usually gas-fired, but can be adapted from any type of thermal plant.