Spain faces renewable energy waste and grid imbalances

Spain is experiencing significant inefficiencies in its renewable energy sector, with reports indicating that approximately 14% of the country's electricity demand is being wasted. According to a study by the consultancy Nera, between September 2025 and August 2026, renewable energy curtailment (vertidos) reached an estimated 35 TWh, representing 14% of Spain's 255 TWh demand.

Experts, including former Red Eléctrica executive Luis Atienza, highlight a growing imbalance between high renewable production—particularly solar and wind—and insufficient demand, electrification, and system flexibility. This mismatch leads to excess production during daylight hours that cannot be stored or transferred to nighttime use, maintaining a continued reliance on thermal power plants.

Key obstacles to resolving these imbalances include the lack of profitability in battery storage for investors, difficulties for consumers to connect to the grid, and tax structures that penalize electricity consumption. Furthermore, the electrical grid is increasingly becoming a bottleneck for the decarbonization process.