Iberia prompt power down as wind parks recover

* Spain day-ahead down 0.88 to 37.79 euros ($52.90) /MWh

* Portugal day-ahead falls 0.33 to 39.55 euros/MWh

MADRID, June 30 (Reuters) - Iberian prompt power fell on Tuesday amid forecasts that becalmed wind parks would recover, while early gains in crude oil drove futures upwards.

Wind power in Spain -- the world's third-largest producer -- was seen rising to as much as 2,800 megawatts on Wednesday, up from 580 MW on Tuesday afternoon, or enough for just 1.4 percent of demand.

Wind power can generate up to 43 percent of Spain's electricity and it moves the power market.

Front-month Brent crude LCOc1 rose to above $73 a barrel in early deals and escalated future prices for gas and coal used to drive 40 percent of Spanish generators.

Baseload 2010 power was heard settling at 47.00 euros/MWh in early over-the-counter market deals, a gain of about 0.35 from the prior session. No trades were reported after oil fell back to below $72.

In other news, Spain's ability to generate hydroelectricity and cut into its heavy dependence on imported gas fell last week, according to official data. [ID:nLU692430]

National grid operator REE (REE.MC) meanwhile said electricity demand in June fell by a seasonally adjusted 4.3 percent in June from the same month last year, a slower drop than in May and April. [ID:LU868474]

Six of Spain's eight nuclear power stations were working normally and providing 5,242 MW between them, or 12.3 percent of demand, according to data from the CSN nuclear regulator.

The Asco I and Vandellos II plants were both refuelling. Each generates 1,000 MW when running normally. (Reporting by Martin Roberts; Editing by Keiron Henderson)