The national wind association, Asociación Empresarial Eólica (AEE) is checking data before it confirms Spain to be the first country to pass that annual milestone.
Based on a mix of real figures and estimates for the final of the year, REE calculates wind will have produced 21.1% the 246.17TWh of electricity consumed in Spain by end-2013, pipping nuclear's 21.0% at the post.
Coal is the next biggest power provider (14.6%) followed by large hydro (14.4%). Combined, REE reckons all renewables generation will have covered 42.4% of demand this year.
In 2011, wind power provided 17.1% of electricity generation in the country, and 18.1% in 2012. This year's figure is a 12% increase on 2012's figure.
AEE estimates wind to have saved over €2.7 billion in fuel imports in 2013.
It also claims wind to have slashed wholesale electricity prices, which marked €7.69/MWh on the day of highest wind penetration (February 2), down from €93.11/MWh on the day of least wind penetration (December 8).
Update, 15 January 2014: Consolidated penetration figures confirm wind delivered 20.9% of electricity consumed in Spain during 2013, compared with nuclear at 20.8%. AEE now confirms that Spain is the first country where wind has been the top generator for an entire year.
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