Spain's Renewable Revolution: Wind & Solar Now Over 55% of Energy Mix

Spain just proved that the renewable energy transition isn't coming someday — it's already here.

Renewable energy accounted for a staggering 55.5% of Spain's total energy mix in 2025, according to figures published by Red Eléctrica, the nation's electricity grid operator. And rather than dropping off during the cold winter months, that momentum accelerated: renewables hit 55.7% in January 2026, right in the heart of winter when energy demand peaks.

Even more remarkable? Wind energy is now Spain's #1 energy source — not nuclear, not gas, but wind — accounting for 21.6% of the country's total energy for the entire year. Solar PV came in second among renewables at 18.4%, making it the third-largest overall source behind nuclear (19.1%).

Winter Proves Renewables Can Handle the Load

Critics often claim renewables can't handle peak demand during extreme weather. Spain just demolished that argument.

In January 2026 — traditionally a high-demand month due to heating needs — wind power alone supplied 31.9% of Spain's electricity, with production increasing 7% to reach 8,087 gigawatt-hours (GWh). National electricity demand rose 3.7% compared to January 2025, yet renewables not only met the demand — they dominated it.

"This came despite restrictions imposed after the dramatic blackout in April," the report notes, indicating Spain's grid has actually become more resilient even after stress-testing.

Record-Breaking Numbers

The scale of Spain's renewable achievement is hard to overstate:

• 150.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable energy generated in 2025 — an all-time high
• 56.6% renewable share when including rooftop solar self-consumption
• 797 GWh from energy storage integrated into the grid in January 2026 alone
• Over 700 GWh from self-consumption installations in January (individual rooftop solar systems)
• Electricity demand increased 2.7% in 2025 and 3.7% in January 2026, yet renewables met the challenge

Hydropower also played a significant role, providing 12.9% of January's electricity — showing Spain's diverse renewable portfolio can adapt to seasonal conditions.

What Makes This Different?

Spain isn't just setting records for a single month or season. This is a sustained transformation:

Wind power topped the charts for an entire year. It wasn't a fluke month or an exceptional season — wind energy was the #1 source of electricity in Spain throughout all of 2025, beating nuclear and every fossil fuel source.

The trend accelerated into 2026. Despite it being the heart of winter (when solar production naturally drops), renewables increased their share from 55.5% to 55.7%. Wind production jumped 7% year-over-year.

Demand is rising, not falling. Spain didn't achieve these numbers by reducing consumption — electricity demand grew by double digits. Renewables are winning because they're outcompeting fossil fuels, not just replacing shrinking usage.

The Storage Factor

One often-overlooked detail: Spain integrated 797 GWh from energy storage technologies into the grid in January 2026. This isn't just about generating renewable energy — it's about storing it to use when needed most.

Battery storage is the missing piece that makes intermittent renewables work like always-on baseload power. Spain is proving that when you combine wind, solar, hydro, and storage, you get a system that's both clean and reliable.

A Blueprint for the World

Spain's success offers a roadmap for other nations:

1. Diversify your renewables. Spain doesn't rely on just wind or just solar — it combines wind (31.9% in winter), solar (9.2% in winter, much higher in summer), hydropower (12.9%), and storage (797 GWh). Different sources balance each other out.

2. Invest in storage. Energy storage turned intermittent renewables into dispatchable power that grid operators can count on.

3. Empower individuals. Over 700 GWh came from rooftop solar self-consumption in January alone — millions of individual solar panels feeding back into the grid.

4. Build for growth, not stagnation. Spain's grid handled a 3.7% demand increase in January while increasing its renewable share. That's resilience.

Why This Matters Beyond Spain

As the US debates climate policy and some nations slow their renewable commitments, Spain is offering proof that the transition works — economically, technically, and politically.

The International Energy Agency projects that renewables and nuclear will account for half of global power supply by 2030. Spain is already there in 2026, four years ahead of schedule, and shows no signs of slowing down.

For the millions of people worried about climate change, Spain's energy data isn't just good news — it's a lifeline. It proves that large, industrialized nations can transition to clean energy right now, not in some distant future.

The Takeaway

Spain didn't wait for perfect technology or ideal conditions. It built wind farms, installed solar panels, invested in storage, and got to work. The result? Wind is now the #1 energy source in a major European nation, and renewables dominate the grid even in the dead of winter.

The renewable revolution isn't a promise for tomorrow. In Spain, it's today's reality. And that reality is spreading.

Source: Red Eléctrica (Spain's National Grid Operator), RenewEconomy, February 12, 2026