TL;DR
A Deloitte study presented by the Spanish wind association (AEE) says wind generation reduced consumer electricity bills by about €4.6 billion in 2024, lowering wholesale prices by roughly €20/MWh. The sector reported rising employment and exports but warns that regulatory and administrative blockages threaten growth and the ability to meet national targets.
What happened
A macroeconomic study prepared by Deloitte for the Asociación Empresarial Eólica (AEE) says wind generation in Spain delivered production of 59,378 GW and covered 24% of electricity demand in 2024, while cutting consumer bills by more than €4.6 billion that year and reducing the wholesale price by about €20 per MWh on average. The report also notes accumulated savings of €47.4 billion between 2012 and 2024. Employment in the sector reached 37,070 people, up 4.7% year-on-year, and wind-turbine exports were valued at about €1.95 billion. Installed onshore capacity stood at 31,679 MW after adding 1,185 MW in 2024. Despite these gains, the AEE says administrative complexity, uneven regional criteria and environmental hurdles have left large volumes of projects stalled — including more than 17,000 MW blocked since 2018 and roughly 3 GW paralysed in Galicia — and that current installation rates fall well short of national plan objectives.
Why it matters
- Direct savings: the sector’s output materially reduced wholesale prices and electricity bills for consumers in 2024.
- Industrial and employment impact: wind supports tens of thousands of jobs and is a significant exporter for Spain’s manufacturing base.
- Policy and permitting risk: administrative and judicial bottlenecks threaten the delivery of projects needed to meet Spain’s integrated energy and climate plan (PNIEC).
- Future competitiveness: delays in repowering and offshore development could undermine reindustrialisation opportunities and cede ground to other European countries.
Key facts
- Reported wind production in 2024: 59,378 GW, covering 24% of demand.
- Estimated consumer savings in 2024 from wind: more than €4.6 billion; average wholesale price reduction around €20/MWh.
- Accumulated savings from 2012–2024: €47.4 billion (per the study).
- Employment in the wind sector in 2024: 37,070 people (up 4.7% year-on-year).
- Spain’s wind-turbine exports in 2024: about €1.95 billion, making Spain the world’s fourth-largest exporter (behind China, Denmark and Germany).
- Installed wind capacity at end of 2024: 31,679 MW after adding 1,185 MW during the year.
- Installation pace vs target: Spain should be installing about 4 GW per year but is adding roughly 1 GW per year, according to the sector.
- Projects and blocks: more than 10 GW have administrative authorisation for construction, around 3 GW are paralysed in Galicia, 9.2 GW have favourable environmental declarations awaiting approval, and over 17,000 MW have been blocked since 2018.
- Estimated annual tax/levy impact on the sector: close to €600 million; sector estimate that €224 of every €1,000 of income goes to taxes and levies.
What to watch next
- Publication of the ministerial order enabling Spain’s first offshore pilot auction and any confirmed auction calendar (the order is still pending; timing not confirmed in the source).
- Whether national or regional authorities adopt and apply the EU principle of overriding public interest for renewables in Spanish law to accelerate approvals (not confirmed in the source).
- Regulatory moves to establish a clear repowering roadmap, incentives and improved grid access for aging onshore installations (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Repowering: The process of replacing old wind turbines with newer ones at existing sites to increase efficiency, capacity or lifespan.
- Wholesale electricity price: The market price at which electricity is bought and sold between generators and suppliers before retail margins and taxes.
- Environmental declaration / EIA: An assessment or formal statement describing the environmental impacts of a proposed project; many projects require a favourable declaration to proceed.
- Offshore wind: Wind farms sited in bodies of water, typically on the continental shelf, that feed power into the onshore grid.
Reader FAQ
How much did wind power reduce electricity bills in Spain in 2024?
The Deloitte study presented by AEE estimates wind generation cut consumer bills by more than €4.6 billion in 2024.
Is Spain installing enough wind capacity to meet national targets?
According to the sector, current installation rates — roughly 1 GW per year — are well below the roughly 4 GW per year that Spain should be installing to meet PNIEC objectives.
Are many wind projects blocked in Spain?
The AEE reports more than 17,000 MW blocked since 2018, around 10+ GW with administrative authorisation, and about 3 GW paralysed in Galicia.
When will offshore wind farms start operating in Spain?
The source says a ministerial order for a pilot offshore auction is still pending; even with a first auction in 2026, the report estimates the first farms would not be operational until 2033.
Zoom A wind farm in Spain. EP Energy Wind power slashed 4.6 billion euros off electricity bills in Spain last year claim The sector has called for the unblocking of…
Sources
- Wind power slashed 4.6B euros off electricity bills in Spain last year
- Vestas earnings surge on onshore gains
- Final Report Energy Subsidies
- Global Outlook for Air Transport A World with Lower Oil …
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