The demand for electrical energy on the Spanish peninsula reached 23,291 GWh in the month of July, representing an increase of 3.3% with respect to the same month in 2009, and a growth of 3.4% in gross demand.

In the first seven months of the year electricity consumption was 152,358 GWh, 3.5% higher than in the same period last year, and 4.1% in gross terms.

NB: As of June, we have been taking as a reference the demand figures once the effects of seasonal and working patterns have been factored in to provide data which better reflects actual consumption figures.

Evolution of demand growth

Blue line: Gross demand.
Red line: Demand.

During the month of July, generation obtained from renewable sources reached 28.3% of the total production, compared to 21.8% in the same month of the previous year. Energy from wind power production grew 14.6% compared to the same period in 2009, representing 11.2% of the total production. Additionally, 49.5% of the electricity generated during the month was produced by technologies which do not produce CO2 emissions.

In the first seven months of the year, production from renewable energy sources accounted for 38.2% of the total production.

Summer maximums
This month the historical summer maximums of instantaneous power, hourly and daily demand have been surpassed (previous maximums had been registered in 2006 and had not been surpassed since), On July 19, instantaneous demand reached 41,318 MW at 1:26 pm and the hourly demand 40,934 MW between 1 pm and 2 pm. Also, a daily demand of 822 GWh was registered on July 8.

Generation mix in the month of July

Generation mix January to July 2010