DEMAND 2024
Evolution of the demand
Information based on provisional data as of January 2025
Demand for electricity in Spain in 2024 grew by 0.9% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 248,811 GWh.
In 2024, the Spanish economy showed strong growth, in contrast to the situation in other neighbouring countries. This growth was primarily driven by internal consumption and exports, with household spending and tourism playing a key role.
Despite global challenges such as the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, as well as local challenges like the DANA storm that occurred in late October, the Spanish economy has demonstrated significant resilience, with moderate inflation and high employment levels.
Much like the last, this year ends with many uncertainties linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions and potential policies that the new U.S. Administration may implement in the coming months (import tariffs, energy deregulation policies, etc.), which could influence the evolution of the economy in the coming year.
Within this context, electricity demand, after two years of decline, registered a 0.9% increase in 2024, reaching 248,811 GWh, although it remains far from pre-COVID levels.
As for the evolution of the peninsular electricity system, which accounts for approximately 94% of Spain's total demand, it increased by 0.9% compared to the previous year, with a total demand of 233,462 GWh.
Evolution of electricity demand over the last 10 years
Storage reached record levels, both in consumption (8,666 GWh) and pumped-storage turbine generation (5,459 GWh). These figures are 5.8% and 4.9% higher than in 2023, exceeding 2022 levels by more than 40% and nearly tripling those recorded in the pre-pandemic year. It is only natural for these values to increase, as pumped storage helps store renewable energy, preventing discharges and supporting the integration of renewables. In fact, March recorded the highest pumped storage consumption in history, coinciding with the highest renewable contribution to the energy mix, both in absolute terms and as a share of the mix.
Additionally, batteries were charged with 11 GWh in 2024, further enabling renewable energy integration. While these figures are still relatively small compared to pumped storage facilities, this emerging technology has already stored twice as much energy as in 2023.
Annual evolution of the electrical energy balance
GWh
Other renewables: Include biogas, biomass, marine hydro, and geothermal.
Pumped storage: Pure pumped storage + estimated mixed pumped storage.
Combined cycle: Includes operation in open-cycle mode.
Peninsula-Balearic Islands link: Positive value: energy input into the system; negative value: energy output from the system.
International exchange balance: Positive value: import-oriented balance; negative value: export-oriented balance. Increment values are not calculated when exchange balances have different signs.
Evolution of the electricity demand coverage
Monthly evolution of demand at power station busbars
Other renewables: Include biogas, biomass, marine hydro, and geothermal.
Pumped storage: Pure pumped storage + estimated mixed pumped storage.
Combined cycle: Includes operation in open-cycle mode.
Peninsula-Balearic Islands link: Positive value: energy input into the system; negative value: energy output from the system.
International exchange balance: Positive value: import-oriented balance; negative value: export-oriented balance.
Widespread increase in virtually every autonomous community
Nearly all autonomous communities in peninsular Spain increased their electricity demand compared to the previous year. Seven of them (Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Galicia, Murcia, and Navarre) recorded growth rates above the national average (3%, 3.2%, 7.2%, 3.3%, 5.2%, -3.4%, and 1.8%, respectively). The Basque Country, Castile and Leon, and Madrid saw increases below the peninsular average (0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.7%). Andalusia, Catalonia, Extremadura, La Rioja, and the Valencian Community are the only regions that reduced their demand compared to the previous year (-0.5%, -0.7%, -0.3%, -0.1%, and -0.01%, respectively). It is important to consider that the high electricity prices in recent years have driven efficiency measures and encouraged self-consumption, which may have influenced demand trends.
Demand at power station busbars by autonomous communities
GWh
The Balearic Islands also shifted to positive growth this year, with a 0.3% increase. The Canary Islands, while still recording positive variations (0.5%), moderated their growth compared to previous years but have now surpassed their 2019 demand levels. Ceuta recorded a slight increase in demand (0.2%) after several years of decline, while Melilla continues to grow, albeit at a much slower rate than last year, meaning it has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels.
National electrical energy balance by autonomous communities
GWh
Electricity demand
Final demand: IRE
Electricity demand
Variation and components