Generation, photovoltaic solar

2022 was once again a record year for solar photovoltaic generation in Spain, with a historic annual maximum of 27,864 GWh and a maximum coverage of 10.1 %

2022 was once again a record year for solar photovoltaic generation in Spain, as it set a new all-time annual high, this time reaching 27,864 GWh, an increase of 32.8 % compared to 2021. The share of this technology in the mix is also at an all-time high, with a value of 10.1 %.

Evolution of solar photovoltaic generation

Annual share of solar photovoltaic generation in total generation

In terms of solar photovoltaic generation by autonomous communities, Extremadura was the community that produced the most electricity in 2022, with 6,952 GWh, which represents 24.9 % of all solar photovoltaic energy generated in Spain. It is closely followed by Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia (5,965 and 5,844 GWh, respectively). The latter, which until two years ago was in first place, is now in third place, having been overtaken by Castile-La Mancha. Solar photovoltaic was the second technology in the generation structure of Extremadura and Murcia, accounting for 26.5 % and 18.1 %, respectively, of their communities' production mix.

Solar photovoltaic power generation in 2022

Solar photovoltaic power generation of each autonomous community as a proportion of the national solar photovoltaic power generation

The months of May to August are the ones with the highest production of solar photovoltaic; in May, the historical maximum generation recorded in July 2021 was beaten, and it was exceeded again, by a very small amount, in July, with a maximum generation of 3,381 MWh. Seasonality is an important factor in this technology and decisively conditions its production throughout the year. Thus, from May to August, it has a share of generation of around 13 and 15 %, and it is above 11 % in April and September. December is the worst month for this technology, with a share of 5.0 %. The maximum coverage was recorded in May, with 15.3 %.

During 2022, the maximum daily solar photovoltaic production has been repeatedly exceeded, reaching a value of 153,117 MWh on Saturday, May 26, 2022 (65.8 % higher than that recorded on June 29, 2021). The maximum coverage was reached on the same day, with a percentage of 19.29 %, higher than the 15.04 % of June 6, 2021.

On an hourly basis, national solar photovoltaic production has also set historical records, reaching a maximum generation of 12,603 MWh on Saturday, May 6, between 13:00 and 14:00, and it registered the highest historical share in the production structure, with a value of 39.83 %, on Sunday, April 17, between 13:00 and 14:00.

Solar photovoltaic generation, monthly maximum values, and share of total generation

It is evident that daylight has an effect on photovoltaic production, with coverage values of over 20 % from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., while from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. it is practically nil.

Average hourly profile of solar photovoltaic as a proportion of total generation in 2022