Recent history of the Basque energy system

World oil crisis

Euskadi extremely weak in energy terms.
(Inefficient energy consumption, high dependence on oil and limited generation capacity).

Start of Basque energy policy

After the approval of the Statute of Autonomy of Euskadi in 1979 (The Statute of Gernika) an energy policy for the Basque Country was begun based on improving efficiency, diversification and renewable energy sources.

The company CADEM
(Centro para el Ahorro y Desarrollo Energético y Minero, S.A.) was created.

It is now part of the structure of the Ente Vasco de la Energía group.

ENERGY MIX IN EUSKADI

The Basque energy demand mix has changed radically in recent decades. In the early 1980s, the situation was characterised by the overwhelming consumption of fossil fuels, mainly in heavy industries that were obsolete and inefficient. The use of coal was widespread and the participation of natural gas and renewables was testimonial.

Ente Vasco de la Energía

The creation of the Energy Agency of the Basque Government. Over the following decades, it would play a key role in the evolution of the Basque energy system, both in terms of the gasification of Euskadi and its participation in strategic energy products for the country.

Sociedad Gas de Euskadi for the implementation of gas policy.

It speeded up the implementation of the natural gas transport and distribution network and triggered the gasification of industry -which replaced coal and oil with this new energy-, which allowed the modernisation of productive processes using high-efficiency technologies that were unthinkable if coal or oil were used. These competitive advantages opened the door to international markets for Basque companies.

First wind turbine installed in Euskadi. A 12-kW POLENCO, on the hills of Karrantza, Bizkaia

First cogeneration plan

As part of the energy efficiency policy, pilot cogeneration projects were set up, with high yields. Cogeneration reached 10% of all electricity production.

Constitution of Sociedad de Hidrocarburos de Euskadi (SHESA)

To research into stocks of local energy resources (natural gas), mainly in the Basque Country-Cantabria basin, with the aim of reducing energy imports from third countries.

Gaviota gas field

The start of installation work on the Gaviota platform, the biggest marine natural gas exploited to date in the Spanish State. In its years in service – from 1987 to 1992 – it produced the equivalent of gas consumption in Euskadi every year (3 TCM). Since 1994 it has been used as an underground storage facility for natural gas.

Start of the ECOMOVIL programme

For the revision of diesel and petrol engine vehicles. 104,846 vehicles were checked up to 2000.

Creation of the company for the rehabilitation of the Bertxin small hydro plant in Andoain

Creation of Naturgas

For the marketing of domestic and commercial gas.

Gasification plan for the service sector

The introduction of piped natural gas to homes begin, replacing the use of gas bottles and other fuels on a large scale. The gasification of the service and domestic sectors extended high well-being levels to all citizens.

ENERGY MIX OF EUSKADI

Oil consumption was received by around 20%, while natural gas rose by 12%.

First biogas plant.

Landfill at Artigas, Bilbao

First certificate for buildings.

New boost for energy efficiency in construction.

Bahía de Bizkaia Gas

The creation of the biggest strategic project in gas infrastructures: the terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas and a regasification plant.

ENERGY MIX OF EUSKADI

Dependence on oil fell from 62 to 50% and on coal from 25 to 8%.
Natural gas reached a share of 14%.
Renewables went above 4%.

Energy intensity

Improved by 24% overall thanks to the promotion of saving and the efficiency use of energy. Industrial intensity increased by 30%.

Final approval of the Wind Power Territorial Sector Plan.

The Basque Government and EVE start the installation of solar panels in all secondary schools of the public network in Euskadi.

Entry into service of the Elgea-Urkilla wind farm (Araba-Álava). 32 MW.

Opening of Bahía de Bizkaia Gas BBG (plant for the import, storage and regasification of LNG) and Bahía de Bizkaia Electricidad BBE (combined cycle plant – 800 MW).

Opening of Bionor, a biodiesel production plant.

Start-up of the combined cycle plant Santurtzi IV (400 MW).

Start-up of the Oiz wind farm. 34 MW.

Start-up of the Badaia wind farm.
50 MW.

Start-up of the incinerator at Zabalgarbi.

With energy recovery of non-recyclable waste (99.5 MW).

Start-up of Bizkaia Energía

A combined cycle plant at Boroa (786 MW).

Entry into service of Euskadour

a gas pipeline to connect with the European gas network through France (capacity 0.2 TMC [thousand million cubic metres]).

Start-up of Bizkaia Energía

A combined cycle plant at Boroa (786 MW).

Opening of Micronizados naturales

A mine and plant for the micronization of calcium carbonate. Turtzioz, Bizkaia.

Opening of CIC Energigune

An advanced research centre into energy storage.

Closure of the fuel-oil plant at Santurtzi

Constitution of IBIL

A company for the implementation and exploitation of an electric vehicle charging network.

Wave energy plant at Mutriku

The first commercial centre in Europe to generate electric power continuously from wave power. It is located on the jetty that shelters the town of Mutriku, from which it takes its name. It is also a major test centre for research into new marine technologies, as a prior step to testing development in the open sea.

The digitalization of the electric power network in Euskadi begins through the Bidelek Sareak project.

A total of 407,179 meters will be installed, 2,306 transformer centres modified, and 2 substations will be equipped with smart technology.

URF plant – Petronor

URF means “Unit for the reduction of fuel-oil”, to recover this fuel – whose use is increasingly restricted – and obtain higher-value products for the market, reducing waste in the process.

It is one of the biggest investments in the energy sector in the history of Euskadi: 850 million euros.

Bilbao-Treto gas pipeline

It links the Basque gas network with Cantabria and Asturias, strengthening the security of gas supplies and consolidating the BBG regasification plant as the main entry point of gas in the Atlantic Arc.

Opening of BiMEP

A marine energy testing centre located in the open sea for floating devices, both of wave energy and wind power.

Third tank in Bahía de Bizkaia Gas (BBG)

Extension of the storage capacity of LNG (liquefied natural gas) up to 450,000 m3. The gas in liquid state is held in the tanks at a temperature of -163ºC.

ENERGY MIX OF EUSKADI

Natural gas represents 32% of consumption, to the detriment of oil and coal. The latter disappears from energy uses and is maintained as a residual source in production processes. Renewables account for 7.5%.

MARMOK A-5

Manufacture and installation in the sea of the first Basque technology device for energy generation from waves.

Mutriku reaches production of 1 GW

The first time in the world that this figure has been reached through wave energy.

Pozo Viura

The Viura project for the production of natural gas is started.

First ship-to-ship bunkering operation with LNG

In the Port of Bilbao, the Oizmendi carries out the first pilot trial for ship-to-ship bunkering with LNG in the Spanish State, in the Mediterranean area.

Ekian solar park

The largest solar park in the Basque Country to date: 24 MW.