Renewable sources contributed 79% of the electricity consumed in Galicia in 2009, which represents an increase of 18 points over the previous year and marks a value that exceeds by almost 50 points the goal set by Spain for that year, which was to reach 30.3%. The goal of the Xunta is to reach 95% by 2015.
The director of the Energy Institute of Galicia (Inega), Eliseo Diéguez, presented this Friday at a press conference the energy balance referred to 2009, which shows that the consumption of oil sources was reduced by 11% due to the effects of "the slowdown of the economy" and also to the measures of saving and energy efficiency, that have had "importance".
Diéguez stressed that 18% of the primary energy --extracted from Galician primary fuels-- consumed in Galicia was obtained from renewable sources, which places the community six points above the target set by the European Union.
Of the total energy generated in the autonomy, 56% came from renewables that year and, within these, the largest contributions are those of wind (48.9%) and hydraulic (47.7%). 1.3% originates in biomass and 1.9% in municipal solid waste. In addition to this 56% renewable, 24.8% of power generation corresponded to coal; 13.6% to natural gas; 4.9% to oil; and 1.1% to waste.
According to the report of the Galician Government, the production of coal-fired power plants fell by 9.5% and that of combined cycles fell by 21.1%, decreases that are explained by the increase in production with renewable sources and the lower demand derived from the crisis.
The director of Inega has also explained that the rate of energy self-sufficiency in Galicia increased to stand at 29%. If electricity and heat are taken into account, the indicator rises to 51%, he said.
Diéguez has indicated that Galicia transforms 9% of the primary energy of Spain and that it has "a great dependence" on imports in this matter, since it acquires in other countries 83% of the primary energy that it then treats to make it suitable for consumption, mainly oil, coal and natural gas. This sector contributed 4.21% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of 2009.
NO TO NUCLEAR
The head of Inega has rejected, in response to questions from journalists, the possibility of installing a nuclear power plant in Galicia. "Galician society does not see nuclear energy well and, therefore, neither do we," he replied.
In any case, he explained that nuclear is part of the energy mix, given that Galicia is connected to the general grid and the community imports energy to stabilize its system (renewables present management difficulties, as they depend on conditions such as wind, not subject to control). (EUROPA PRESS)
Recommend on FacebookShare on technoratiTweet about itSubscribe to the comments on this postBookmark in BrowserTell a friendAuthors: admin
