The electrical production plants called combined cycles transform the energy of natural gas into electricity. It is a technology that stands out for its high availability and flexibility in the face of the intermission of other sources of electricity generation. They are, therefore, essential infrastructure to guarantee the safety of the supply and stability of the electrical system, especially in a context of growing penetration of very high renewable energy in recent years thanks to its cheaper, high availability of renewable resource in our country and environmental sustainability.
Backup technology
Combined cycles contribute to boosting the energy transition in two ways: they favor the increasing penetration of renewable energy; And, being compatible with the thriving renewable gases, they are located in an efficient and competitive discarking route in line with the emissions reduction objectives of the electrical system.
Thus, its capacity to cover demand, flexibility and response capacity, make it ‘lifeguard’ of the electrical system when other generation technologies are not available. In fact, the 25,000 MW of flexible power provided by the combined cycles have made it possible to reach the current levels of penetration of renewable energy in the electrical system and continue increasing them to the marked objectives.
In recent years, combined cycles have reduced their ordinary production significantly as renewable power has been incorporated into the system. Change that has meant a reduction of its income and, in parallel, an increase in costs linked to a more complex and demanding operation, with increasing starts and stops depending on the oscillations of solar and wind production.
After the blackout of the end of April in Spain, combined gas cycles have increased their production by 113.8% in June compared to the same month last year to ensure electricity supply, and 62% during the month of May, compared to the same month of 2024.
Main operator
Naturgy is the main combined cycles operator in Spain, with a park of 18 facilities available to the system operator, with an availability rate of 98% in 2024 and a recorded production of 9.5 SWH during that same year, equivalent to the annual consumption of one million homes.
The company, which invests around 100 million euros per year to maintain these facilities in perfect condition and to improve their efficiency and flexibility, has worked intensely to adapt them to the circumstances of the electrical market, very different from when they were designed and built, more than two decades ago. And plans to invest 400 million euros until 2027 in the operation and maintenance of its combined cycle plants.