• 2023 was the year in which Spanish industry consumed the highest share of renewable energy.

  • Total energy consumption by industry fell by 1.5% compared to 2022 and reached 18.5 million tonnes per unit of oil (Mtoe), the lowest so far this century.

  • 48.6% of the energy used by industry comes directly or indirectly from natural gas.

Madrid, 20 December 2024. 29% of the energy consumed by industry in Spain in 2023 will come from renewable sources. This figure represents an increase of 4 points compared to the figure for 2022, according to an analysis carried out by Opina 360 and Foro Industria y Energía based on data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Although total energy consumption by industry fell by 1.5%, reaching a historic low of 18.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), the role of renewable energies increased substantially, both in the use of these sources for industrial heat generation (which reached 13.3%) and in their contribution to electricity production. The decrease in the consumption of natural gas, both used directly and for electricity generation, also contributed to the increase in this percentage, as did the decrease in the consumption of oil and other products such as diesel, which also reached an all-time low.

According to Juan Francisco Caro, director of Opina 360, ‘direct consumption of natural gas in industry has decreased by only 2.2% compared to 2022, but its lower contribution to electricity generation (22.3%) means that, according to our calculations, its real share in the industrial mix will fall from 51.4% in 2022 to 48.3% in 2023, while the contribution of renewables will increase from 25% to 29%. Industry consumes less electricity, but this energy is more sustainable.

For his part, Albert Concepción, director of Foro Industria y Energía, considers that ‘these figures seem to indicate that, although industry is taking important steps in the decarbonisation process, there are still industrial processes that are difficult to electrify and those in which electrification is taking place have little significant impact. Electrifying these processes or applying technologies such as renewable gases will be essential to replace fossil fuels and nuclear energy.