Agenda
Challenges
Spain is highly dependent on imports to meet its energy requirements, with domestic energy production only meeting 23% of Spain's total energy consumption. Spain has a small amount of proven oil reserves and produced only 3,000 bbl/d of crude oil in 2006.
Coal is Spain’s most plentiful indigenous energy source. In 2009 the country produced around 10 million tonnes of coal (of which the hard coal production accounted for around 7 million tonnes) while consuming approx. 26,3 million tones in the same year. Spain’s coal reserves are found primarily in northern Spain in the Asturias (hard coal) with smaller deposits located near south western Seville, Cordoba and Badajoz and in north eastern Catalonia and Aragon. Most of the country’s lignite is located in Galicia.
Political
The most important specific collective task which any society should take up in the current situation is clear and simple: radically cutting down the combustion of fossil substances containing carbon. This needs to be done without waiting to see if climate change is as true and intense as they say and regardless of what the rest do, which is the so far traditional small-minded attitude typical of more developed countries.
Considering this problem, climate change, as the main issue associated to our energy system should not make us forget the shortage of conventional energy sources (oil, natural gas, uranium and carbon) and the dependency of some countries such as Spain regarding their supply.
Status
Growth
Until the early 1980s, Spain increasingly depended upon imported petroleum, and overall energy consumption continued to grow in the 1973-79 period. Following adjustment to a slower rate of economic growth and to the changed energy market of the 1970s, Spanish energy consumption declined in the early 1980s.
Targets
Energy policy in Spain in the coming decade will be shaped by the European Union targets for 2020 on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The country will have to cut emissions from the sectors outside of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme by 10% below their 2005 levels. It will also have to increase the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption from 8.7% in 2005 to 20% in 2020. Spain and other EU member states also have a separate binding target for renewable energy to cover 10% of transport fuel demand in 2020.
Institutional Structure
Ministry of Industry Tourism and Trade
The Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade is the department within the Spanish general administration responsible for proposing and carrying out government policy in the areas of industrial development and innovation, trade policy, small and medium sized enterprises, energy and mining, tourism, telecommunications and the Information Society.
Agencies
The ministry is supported by several semi-independent bodies, including the following:
a. The National Energy Commission (CNE) is the sectoral regulator for the electricity, natural gas and oil markets.
b. The Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) runs activities to increase public knowledge and awareness.
c. The Strategic Reserves Corporation (CORES) is the stockholding agency in charge of managing and maintaining minimum security stocks of crude oil, oil products and natural gas.
d. The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) is the competent body in matters of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
CIEMAT (Centre for Energy, Environment and Technological Research)
CIEMAT is the major publicly funded energy research institution in Spain. It carries out R&D and demonstration projects primarily on energy, but also on environment and other technology areas. CIEMAT is governed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and collaborates closely with industry.
Budget
Current
Since 2004, public spending on energy R&D has increased year after year to reach EUR 74 million in 2007 (see Figure 32). Out of that total, EUR 30 million was spent on renewable energy projects, EUR 24 million on nuclear power and EUR 7 million on energy efficiency. The rest was spent on fossil fuels, power and storage and other areas.
History
Close to $US15 billion of taxpayers' money has been used every year since 1990 to prop up the fossil fuel and nuclear industries in subsidies from the EU and Western European governments.
This substantial subsidy is fuelling climate change and adding to the legacy of nuclear waste contamination and the risk of Chernobyl-style accidents. This is despite public commitments at international negotiating tables to protect the climate and the pledge to boost safe renewable energy solutions.
Governments have spent over $US60 billion of public money on these mature, environmentally dangerous industries since 1992 when they signed an international treaty to protect the climate.
Key Policies
Recent Legislation
Energy policy in Spain in the coming decade will be shaped by the European Union targets for 2020 on greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The country will have to cut emissions from the sectors outside of the EU EmissionsTrading Scheme by 10% below their 2005 levels. It will also have to increase the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption from 8.7% in 2005 to 20% in 2020.
Spain and other EU member states also have a separate binding target for renewable energy to cover 10% of transport fuel demand in 2020. Also, Spain will have to increase energy efficiency to help reduce energy demand in the EU by 20% below the business-as-usual level by 2020.
Miscellaneous
Further Information
One of the most pressing is the need to select a site for Spanish nuclear waste currently stored in France, which is costing Spain’s taxpayers in the order of EUR€23 million a year. This looks almost certain to be delayed until after the next general election in March 2012.
Transition to Globalisation
Future Fossil Fuel Electricity Generation in Europe, Options and Consequences
Future Fossil Fuel Electricity Generation in Europe: Options and Consequences The optimal technology mix for the fossil-fuelled power generation sector of the future is the one that simultaneously minimises CO2 emissions, fossil fuel consumption and the production costs of electricity, while decreasing the share of natural gas in the fuel mix.
Globalisation > Economy > Energy > Sources > Non-Renewable
Transition to Political Tools
Crossing Borders in European Gas Networks
Crossing Borders in European Gas Networks Demand for gas is on the rise in Europe, yet its indigenous production is in decline. The need for imports from remote sources will grow. At the same time, a pan-European market for natural gas is expected to develop, leading to new movements of gas in addition to the traditional direct flows from production facilities to consumers.
Political Tools > Regional > Europe > EU > Dom. Policies > Economy > Energy > Non-Renewable
Transition to Political Actors
Steep Decline in Oil Production Brings Risk of War and Unrest, Says New Study
World oil production has already peaked and will fall by half as soon as 2030, according to a report which also warns that extreme shortages of fossil fuels will lead to wars and social breakdown.
Political Actors > Civil society > NGOs > Energy
