Spain has long positioned itself as a vanguard of the European energy transition, boasting some of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy targets. However, a new critical analysis suggests that beneath the surface of wind turbines and solar arrays, the country is deepening a dangerous reliance on fossil fuels, effectively trading one geopolitical dependency for another.
The “Anuario crítico del gas fósil del Estado español,” released by the Gas No Es Solución network—which includes Greenpeace—paints a troubling picture of a system in regression. According to the report, Spain’s gas consumption rose by 6.2% in 2025 compared to the previous year, driven largely by a surge in gas-fired electricity generation. This shift has not only stalled carbon reduction efforts but has also tethered the Spanish economy more tightly to the United States, which has now ascended to become the nation’s second-largest gas supplier, trailing only Algeria.
For a nation that has legally banned hydraulic fracturing (fracking) within its own borders due to environmental and social risks, the report highlights a stark contradiction: the vast majority of the gas arriving from the U.S. Is extracted via the very same fracking techniques in the Gulf of Mexico. This “substitution of dependencies” suggests that Spain is not transitioning away from a fossil-fuel model, but is simply swapping Russian influence for American corporate interests.
The High Price of Grid Instability
A central catalyst for this increased dependency was a significant power outage on April 28, 2025. In the wake of the blackout, Spanish authorities activated a “reinforced market” strategy, known as Operación Reforzada, to stabilize the grid. While the measure succeeded in keeping the lights on, the environmental and economic costs were steep.
The report finds that this emergency measure triggered a massive spike in the use of combined-cycle gas turbines. Electricity generation from gas surged by 39% compared to the prior year, leading to a 16% increase in emissions from the electrical system. For the average consumer, this instability translated into direct financial loss, with estimated overcosts ranging between €422 million and €1.5 billion.
This cycle of crisis-driven fossil reliance underscores a systemic vulnerability. The Gas No Es Solución network argues that as long as gas remains a “backstop” for the electrical system, the incentive to invest in long-term storage and diversified renewable baseloads will be undermined by short-term corporate profits.
Infrastructure and the ‘White Elephant’ of El Musel
The report dedicates significant attention to the regasification plant at El Musel in Gijón, framing it as a prime example of strategic miscalculation. Marketed as a critical infrastructure hub for European energy security, the facility has instead functioned primarily as a conduit for the domestic market. Over 80% of the gas unloaded at El Musel has been injected directly into the Spanish national grid rather than serving as an international logistics hub.
The logistics of the plant further emphasize the shift toward U.S. Markets; of the 36 LNG tankers received, 35 originated from the United States. With costs potentially reaching €670 million—borne ultimately by the consumers—the plant is described as a symptom of an oversized gas system. This is corroborated by the report’s finding that during the first half of 2025, five of Spain’s seven regasification plants operated at less than 35% capacity.
| Metric | 2024 Baseline | 2025 Reported Status | Impact/Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gas Consumption | Baseline | +6.2% | Increasing Dependency |
| Electric System Emissions | Baseline | +16% | Climate Goal Regression |
| Gas Generation (Electricity) | Baseline | +39% | Post-Blackout Surge |
| US Supplier Rank | Lower Tier | 2nd (after Algeria) | Geopolitical Shift |
| Regasification Utilization | Variable | <35% (5 of 7 plants) | System Oversizing |
The Methane Gap and the Risk of ‘Greenwashing’
Beyond the volume of gas, the report warns of the invisible threat: methane leaks. As Spain increases its imports from the U.S. And Algeria, it exposes itself to higher methane intensities. The report notes that leaks associated with these two primary providers increased between 2024 and 2025, complicating Spain’s compliance with the European Methane Regulation (EUMR).
To combat this, activists are calling for a public registry to ensure full traceability of every shipment, including independent audits of methane intensity. Without such transparency, the report argues, the transition to “bridge fuels” like biogás and biometano risks becoming a sophisticated form of greenwashing.
The concern is that biometano could be used to justify the continued existence and expansion of the gas grid, rather than acting as a niche solution for sectors that are genuinely difficult to electrify. To prevent this, the network proposes that the “Sello de Excelencia de Biometano” (Biomethane Excellence Seal), outlined in the government’s RDL 7/2026, be made a mandatory regulatory requirement for public funding. They specifically demand the exclusion of industrial “macro-farms” and energy crops from being counted as organic sources.
Corporate Complicity and the Path to 2035
The report does not shy away from naming the actors it deems responsible for maintaining this fossil-fuel inertia. Energy giants such as Naturgy, Endesa and Repsol, along with major financial institutions including Santander, BBVA, and La Caixa, are identified as key enablers of the current model through their investments and financing of gas infrastructure.
In response to these findings, the Gas No Es Solución network has issued a set of urgent demands to the Spanish government:
- An immediate ban on the import of gas produced via fracking.
- A moratorium on new investments in gas infrastructure.
- Strict enforcement of the EU Methane Regulation with full import traceability.
- A legally binding roadmap to completely phase out fossil gas by 2035.
As the European Union continues to tighten its climate mandates, Spain finds itself at a crossroads. The tension between immediate energy security and long-term ecological survival is no longer a theoretical debate but a financial and atmospheric reality reflected in the 2025 data.
The next critical checkpoint for Spain’s energy policy will be the formal implementation of the RDL 7/2026 regulations regarding biomethane, which will determine whether the transition is guided by genuine sustainability or corporate convenience.
Do you believe Spain can realistically exit fossil gas by 2035, or is the dependency on the U.S. And Algeria too deep to break? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reports concerning energy policy and economic projections; it does not constitute financial or investment advice.
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