Generation

Hydro generation was 41.1 % higher than last year, due to higher rainfall, reaching 25,273 GWh. This accounted for 9.5 % of total national production, which is much higher than last year's 6.5 %

Hydro generation in Spain is highly variable, reaching over 40,000 GWh in wet years, while this volume is reduced by more than half in dry years. 2023 was a fairly dry year, with hydro production standing at 25,273 GWh, 41.1 % higher than in 2022. As a result, hydro power contributed 9.5 % of total domestic production, ranked fifth among generating technologies.

Evolution of hydropower generation

Among all renewable energy sources, hydro power was ranked third, after wind power, with 18.8 % of the total renewable energy generated at the national level.

Annual share of hydropower generation in total generation

In terms of hydro generation by autonomous community, Galicia, Castile and Leon, Aragon and Catalonia are the communities with the highest hydroelectric production in 2023.

Hydropower generation in 2023

Hydropower generation in each autonomous community as a proportion of national hydro power generation

Historically, the final months of winter and the early months of spring are the periods with the greatest water contribution, mainly due to thawing and also to the higher rainfall in those months.

In 2023, December was the month in which most hydro generation was delivered, with 3,974 GWh (44.5 % higher than the maximum value in 2022). December was also the month with the highest contribution of this technology to overall production, with 17.6 % of total generation that month, followed by January, with 16.2 %. This contribution is still slightly lower than in recent years. February 2014 continues to hold the record.

Monthly hydropower generation, peaks, and share of total generation

One of the main advantages of this technology over other renewable energies is its manageability, which is evident from the average daily curve of the share of hydro power in total generation, which shows how the greatest contribution of this technology coincides with peak demand in the morning and in the evening.

Average hourly profile of hydropower generation as a proportion of total generation in 2023

Hydropower generation by hydrographic zone