Installed capacity

Hydroelectric power is the third-largest renewable source on the peninsula, coming in after wind power and solar photovoltaic

Hydroelectric power has traditionally been the main renewable source in Spain, until it was overtaken by wind power in 2009 and by solar photovoltaic in 2022. It remains the third-largest renewable source in terms of installed capacity, with a total of 17,097 MW at the end of 2024. As can be observed, its capacity has remained practically unchanged; it would be necessary to go back to 2012 to find an increase of over 1%. In 2024, there were no variations compared to 2023. Hydro represents 13.3% of the total electricity generation installed capacity, therefore ranking as the fourth technology behind solar photovoltaic, wind power, and combined cycle.

Annual evolution of installed hydroelectric capacity

By autonomous community, Castile and Leon is the community with the highest hydroelectric installed capacity, with 25.7% of the total national capacity, given that this region is the exclusive home of the Duero basin, the second largest in the Iberian Peninsula. It is followed by Galicia with 21.8% of the national total, bringing together a large part of the northern area, which is the largest in terms of installed capacity and also includes Asturias, Cantabria and part of the Basque Country.

Five communities account for almost 80% of the total national installed capacity, including, in addition to those mentioned above, Extremadura, Catalonia, and Aragon.

Installed hydropower capacity at December 31, 2024

Geographical distribution of hydropower facilities on the peninsula at December 31, 2024

Hydroelectric power in each autonomous community as a share of national hydroelectric power