Spain has made significant strides in renewable energy adoption, with solar and wind power accounting for over 40% of its electricity generation in 2022. However, this rapid growth has also brought to light the challenge of curtailment, where renewable energy generation is intentionally reduced or halted due to grid limitations where Spain’s electricity transmission system has not kept pace with the rapid growth of renewable energy generation, leading to congestion and making it difficult to transport excess renewable energy to areas with higher demand. Along with weather variability, where Spain’s climate is characterized by frequent changes in weather patterns, which can lead to periods of overproduction from solar and wind energy sources. This can overwhelm the grid, requiring curtailment to maintain grid stability.  

Curtailment in Spain has been increasing at an alarming rate, surging tenfold from 67 GWh in 2021 to 715 GWh in 2022. This represents a significant loss of valuable renewable energy, equivalent to approximately 1.1 billion euros in additional costs for consumers. Leading to a loss of revenue for renewable energy producers since the curtailed electricity in Spain is not compensated as it is in other countries. 

Predictions indicate that curtailment in renewable energy production may escalate to 20% by 2050, equivalent to approximately 50 TWh, creating an urgent demand for energy storage solutions. 

Join us for an enlightening session that delves into the intricate landscape of curtailment, presenting both a formidable challenge and a promising avenue within the Iberian market. Early signs of curtailment are surfacing at specific nodes in the network, and with the anticipated rise in solar and wind energy projects, there is a projected swift increase. The exciting revelation lies in how energy storage can emerge as a pivotal solution to effectively address this complex issue. 

In this session, you will: 

• Analyse the escalating impact of curtailment on variable renewable generation in Spain over the upcoming years 
• Uncover how storage technologies can strategically minimize curtailment, opening up a realm of new business opportunities 
• Explore Long Duration energy Storage (LDES) as a solution to curtailment 
• Strategically map out short and medium-term curtailment scenarios with essential insights to position your projects in optimal locations and timelines 
• Don’t miss this chance to gain fresh perspectives and explore exciting opportunities in the ever-evolving energy landscape 

Speakers:

• Ashok Krishnan, Manager Market Development, Sumitomo SHI FW
• Alex Campbell, Director of Policy and Partnerships, LDES
• Carlos Marquéz, Market Intelligence Director, ATA Insights (Moderator)