Andalusia has a high potential of renewable energy resources distributed throughout the region and contributes 19,3% of the energy consumed, 29.3% of electricity and 10.1% in biofuels for transport (in 2012).
With regard to solar energy, Andalusia has a high number of sunshine hours, more than 3,000 a year in some areas, emphasizing the outstanding potential for its use. Our region has been a pioneer in the production of heat and electricity from solar energy.
Our region has important biomass potential, mainly from the cultivation of the olive grove and related industries: olive pruning, olive stone, olive pomace and olive marc. In 2012, biomass contributed 50% of the primary energy consumption from renewable sources in Andalusia. A total potential of 3,958 ktoe/year of biomass is estimated.
With respect to marine energy, the technology is currently in a very early state of development and the analysis of the potential of these sources is essential, which will mark the path to follow.
Andalusia is the Spanish Autonomous Community that possesses the largest coastline and the only one bathed by the Atlantic and Mediterranean Coasts. It is necessary to indicate the potential of the marine currents in the Strait of Gibraltar, which has an estimated average power of 600 MW, equivalent to a set of facilities of 1200 MWp. With regard to wave energy, Andalusia has an average power of 200 MW, out of a total of 2,000 MW, which is shared between the Atlantic Coast of Andalusia, the Strait and the western coast of Almeria. The exploitability of wave energy in Andalusia has an average power of 200 MW which is the equivalent to a set of facilities of 800 MWp.
With regard to geothermal energy it is necessary to indicate the existence of an important resource potential of low temperature in the area of the capitals of the provinces, particularly in Granada, Seville and Cordoba, where a high population density makes its use more profitable in centralised air conditioning. However, there are no resources of very high enthalpy in the region aimed at generating electricity.
The hydro energy potential of more than 10 MW cannot be operated easily, since priority is given to uses such as human supply or irrigation. However, there is an exploitable potential of mini hydro (<10 MW) in the numerous small abandoned plants that could be modernised and automated.
