BeClever, February 2025

Jonan Basterra18 February 2025·4 min read

Welcome to a new edition of BeClever, the Clevergy energy newsletter! As every month, we bring you the latest news from the energy sector. This month we look at how electricity consumption is growing, and the opportunities for installers and suppliers in Spain.

Electricity consumption is on the rise

According to a Electricity 2025 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity consumption will grow by 4% annually until 2027. This increase will be driven by rising use in industrial production, air conditioning use, electrification and the growth of data centres.

In this regard, last January electricity demand rose by 2.3% in Spain compared with the same period the previous year, with renewables producing 55.8% of the total electricity mix. In Portugal, January was the month with the highest electricity consumption since records began, with renewables covering 76% of consumption.

Renewables, a unique opportunity for Spain

Another report, this time from Ember, puts the savings achieved by EU member states over the past 5 years thanks to renewable energy at 59,000 million euros. Spain, with 14,000 million euros, is the European country that saves the most, taking into account the cost of fossil fuels (coal and gas) that have been replaced by renewable energy.

The commitment to renewables and the privileged location are causing that, although electricity prices have been rising in the market in recent weeks, Spain and Portugal maintain much lower prices than our neighbours to the north.

In any case, there is still much to do, both in installations and in improving information on electricity generation. In this regard, Red Eléctrica, which by the way is celebrating its 40th anniversary (congratulations!), has included storage in the electricity system information. But better information on self-consumption and the generation of users and businesses, which is becoming increasingly important, is still lacking. Having the data would be the first step towards being able to use it for demand flexibility to achieve greater energy efficiency.

2024 was a bad year for self-consumption installations

The photovoltaic self-consumption sector in Spain is facing challenges. According to the annual report by APPA (Asociación de Empresas de Energías Renovables), the annual installed self-consumption capacity has decreased for the second year in a row, moving further away from the established targets. In 2024, 1,431 MW were installed, 26.3% less than in 2023, bringing the total to 8,585 MW in the country.

APPA evolucion instalaciones autoconsumo

Self-consumption in Spain, at certain moments, produces more energy than nuclear plants, without there being an official register of these installations. APPA is calling for a tax framework that incentivises self-consumption, as well as the simplification of administrative procedures.

But there are green shoots: the drop in photovoltaic panel prices at the end of 2024, the new opportunities offered by battery installations, and the option to upgrade services or offer new products to customers who have already taken the step towards self-consumption.

The new role of suppliers

This market evolution presents both challenges and opportunities for the energy sector. Adapting to new consumer demands and technological innovation will be key to the future success of suppliers.

In this article by our CEO, Beltrán Aznar, you can better understand how electricity suppliers are evolving towards a role as energy allies. Consumers are looking for something more than competitive rates; they demand personalised solutions and innovative services. 67% of consumers are looking for a personalised energy solution, and almost 20% are willing to adopt new energy products and services.