From the hydroelectric perspective, 2009 was a highly variable year, with rains in the first quarter and a fairly widespread lengthy period of drought up until late November.

Over the period April to September water head electrical generation saw a decline every month. In September cumulative output for the first nine months of the year represented an increase of only 8% over the same period in 2008, despite the fact that by late March there had been a cumulative increase for the first quarter of 124%. Over the period wind power generation grew by 9.3%, while demand for electricity had fallen by 7.5%, in all cases compared with the same period in 2008.

At the close of 2009 the combined cycle plants in operation fired by natural gas amounted to a joint power capacity of 22,075 MW, divided into 55 groups. Only one plant came on-stream in 2009, in Malaga, although a further two groups were in testing at the close of the year.