1\u00a0075.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nThe only significant indigenous energy resource that Spain possesses is coal, totalling 4\u00a0500\u00a0million tonnes, including accessible reserves of 1\u00a0156\u00a0million tonnes.\u00a0 In 2015, coal met 10.9% of the country\u2019s energy demand through a combination of 3.0\u00a0million tonnes of domestic production and 19.0\u00a0million tonnes of imported coal.\u00a0 Oil, natural gas and nuclear are the other principal energy sources, with wind and solar providing 6.2% of total primary energy supply.<\/p>\n
Electricity supplied in 2015 came mainly from conventional sources:\u00a0 nuclear power with 57.3\u00a0TWh gross (20.4%), followed by hard coal 52.9\u00a0TWh (18.9%), natural gas 51.3\u00a0TWh (18.3%) and hydro 31.2\u00a0TWh (11.1%).\u00a0 Solar and wind have grown strongly since 2000 to 63.2\u00a0TWh (22.5%) in 2015, while biomass and waste accounted for the remaining 2.7%.<\/p>\n
Spain has one of the most dynamic electricity markets in Europe.\u00a0 There is fierce competition between coal-fired and natural gas-fired power generation for the market that remains after nuclear, hydro and must-run renewables have supplied.\u00a0 Hydro output can vary significantly from one year to the next and, with a system capacity margin of over 100%, there is plenty of room for switching between energy sources.<\/p>\n
Hard coal<\/b><\/p>\n
Hard coal deposits in the north-west Principality of Asturias are located in the Nal\u00f3n Valley and are of a low calorific value.\u00a0 Nevertheless, in the past they were Spain\u2019s biggest source of coal.\u00a0 Today, high extraction costs have led to the gradual closure of mines.\u00a0 In 2015, 1.2\u00a0million tonnes were produced in Asturias.\u00a0 The deposits at Le\u00f3n-Palencia are also of a low calorific value, although some anthracite seams are present.\u00a0 Coal in the Astur-Leonesa basin north of La Robla in the region of Castilla y Le\u00f3n, where anthracite is mined by HULLERA VASCO-LEONESA and CARBONAR, has a high calorific value (5\u00a0500\u00a0kcal\/kg or 23\u00a0000\u00a0kJ\/kg) and low volatile matter, making its extraction more economic.\u00a0 Hard coal mines located in the region, especially in the Le\u00f3n and Palencia provinces, produced 363\u00a0thousand tonnes in 2015.<\/p>\n
The hard coal basin at Puertollano in the Ciudad Real province south of Madrid has reserves for several decades.\u00a0 Mining is very important at Puertollano with an output of 169\u00a0thousand tonnes in 2015.<\/p>\n
The province of Teruel in the Aragon region boasts the largest sub-bituminous hard coal reserves in Spain, of which some 200\u00a0million tonnes can be extracted by opencast mining.\u00a0 The high sulphur content of this coal (4% to 6%) made it less attractive for use at power plants in the past, before plants were fitted with flue gas desulphurisation.\u00a0 1.3\u00a0million tonnes of coal were produced in 2015.<\/p>\n
In all, there are thirteen active coal mining companies operating in Spain: \u00a0BIERZO ALTO, CARBONES ARLANZA, CARBONAR, CARBONES DEL PUERTO, C\u00cdA GRAL MINERA DE TERUEL, C\u00cdA ASTUR LEONESA, ENDESA, ENCASUR, HIJOS DE BALDOMERO GARC\u00cdA, HULLERA VASCO-LEONESA, MINERA CATALANO ARAGONESA, UNI\u00d3N MINERA DEL NORTE and HULLERA DEL NORTE.<\/p>\n
On energy policy developments, the \u201cCoal Plan for the years 2013 to 2018\u201d was agreed in 2014.\u00a0 The Spanish government committed itself to find a mechanism to facilitate indigenous coal consumption after expiry on 31\u00a0December 2014 of the Royal Decree 134\/2010 which had been approved by the European Commission in 2010 (N178\/2010).\u00a0 Although this decree was challenged in the courts, the decision of the European Court of Justice on 3\u00a0December 2014 was favourable for coal producers (Castelnou vs. Commission).\u00a0 CARBUNI\u00d3N (the Spanish National Coal Mining Employers\u2019 Association) participated as a co\u2011defendant while Castelnou is an EDF Group company that operates two CCGTs on the Spanish Mediterranean.\u00a0 It had argued that its CCGTs were idle because of the Royal Decree\u2019s support for coal.\u00a0 This argument was annulled by all the evidence presented, both by the Commission and the Spanish government.<\/p>\n
In summary, the European Court of Justice held that the Decree was fair because the public interest is more important than that of a private company.\u00a0 The arguments used and the decision taken in this case set an important precedent for future decisions of the European Court of Justice that may affect coal producers in other EU member states.<\/p>\n
In May 2016, the European Commission announced that the Spanish government\u2019s plan of October 2013 to grant \u20ac2.13\u00a0billion for the orderly closure of twenty-six coal mines by 2018 was in line with EU rules on state aid, in particular Council Decision 2010\/787\/EU (case SA.34332).<\/p>\n
Lignite<\/b><\/p>\n
At the end of 2007, Spain\u2019s last lignite mines located in Galicia on the north-west side of the Iberian Peninsula were closed.\u00a0 Lignite reserves of 210\u00a0million tonnes remain.<\/p>\n
The FUNDACI\u00d3N CIUDAD DE LA ENERG\u00cdA (CIUDEN) is the leading public developer of CO2<\/sub> capture, transport and geological storage in Spain.\u00a0 Its development centre for carbon capture technologies in Le\u00f3n is testing injection and monitoring techniques for supercritical CO2<\/sub> injection in underground strata at Hontom\u00edn.\u00a0 CIUDEN has links with other international research centres and currently has contracts with the European Commission under the 7th<\/sup>\u00a0Framework Programme.<\/p>\nSpain<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n| \n Coal resources and reserves<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total resources hard coal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4\u00a0500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total resources lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 210<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Reserves hard coal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 1\u00a0156<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Reserves lignite<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 210<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Primary energy production<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total primary energy production<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 48.7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal (saleable output)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt \/ Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 3.0 \/ 1.8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Saleable coal quality<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal net calorific value<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n kJ\/kg<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 18\u00a0231<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal ash content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 34.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal moisture content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 13.2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal sulphur content<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n % a.r.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Coal imports \/ exports<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal imports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 19.0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Primary energy consumption<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total primary energy consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 170.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Mtce<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 18.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Power supply<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total gross power generation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 280.5<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Net power imports (exports)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n (0.1)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Total power consumption<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 280.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Power generation from hard coal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n TWh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 54.6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Hard coal power generation capacity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n MW<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 11\u00a0906<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n| \n Employment<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2015<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Direct in hard coal mining<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n thousand<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 3.324<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The economic crisis has been particularly harsh in Spain and the government has been forced to introduce many austerity measures which have had a direct impact on the coal industry.\u00a0 At the same time, the country is highly dependent on imported oil and natural gas.\u00a0 It has an overall import dependence of 72.9%, well above […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":776,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-828","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/828\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} 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The economic crisis has been particularly harsh in Spain and the government has been forced to introduce many austerity measures which have had a direct impact on the coal industry.\u00a0 At the same time, the country is highly dependent on imported oil and natural gas.\u00a0 It has an overall import dependence of 72.9%, well above the EU average of 53.5%.\u00a0 This places a burden on the Spanish economy by increasing its trade deficit and foreign indebtedness.\u00a0 Spain\u2019s primary energy production was 48.7\u00a0Mtce in 2015.<\/p>\n![\"es\"](\"https:\/\/pipe.euracoal.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/es.jpg\")
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