Spain Solar Report

As of June 2024, Spain’s utility-scale solar capacity was 29.5 GW.⁷

As of March 2024, a total solar capacity of 25.5 GW is connected to the grid, occupying 20.3% of the total installed capacity in Spain. 5.6 GW was added to the grid in 2023.⁸

In 2022, the cumulative total solar power installed was 19.5 GW, of which 17.2 GW were solar PV installations and 2.3 GW was concentrated solar power.⁹

The draft update of the National Energy and Climate (NECP) 2021-2030 indicates that Spain aims to reach an installed capacity of 81 GW of solar energy (76 GW of PV and 4.8 GW of CSP) by 2030.⁸

• Fossil Gas: 0.17 USD/kWh in 2021.¹⁰
• Solar PV: 0.05 USD / kWh in 2022.¹¹
• Wind Onshore: 0.03 USD /kWh in 2022.¹¹

Spain produces its electricity from various sources: natural gas (23.77%), wind power (23.44%), nuclear energy (21.06%), solar power (16.71%), hydroelectric power (7.42%), oil (3.98%), bioenergy (2.17%), and coal (1.45%). (2023)¹²

Projected Renewable Energy:⁸¹³

In the latest draft of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) 2021-2030, Spain aims to reach this capacity by 2030:

• Solar 81 GW (76 GW of PV and 4.8 GW of CSP).
• Wind 62 GW (59 GW onshore and 3 GW offshore).
• 17 GW of hydro, bio, and others (1.4 GW of biomass and 62 MW of marine energies and others).
• 22 GW of storage for solar.

Spain’s explicit target for the share of renewables in generation reaches up to 78% by 2030.

The availability index of the transmission grid at the domestic level in 2023 was 97.63 %, in terms of hours it can equated to 23.43 hours per day.⁶

In 2022, the rooftop Solar capacity was 5.2 GW, with a generation capacity of 5631 GWh of which 4564 GWh was used. An estimated 298,000 homes and 54,000 companies have installed solar on their rooftops until 2022.¹⁴

According to the renewable lobby APPA, Spain installed 408,182 solar panels on rooftops from 2018 to 2023.¹⁵

Installed:

• Approximately 37 known solar farms in Spain have generational capabilities ranging from 9 MW to 800MW.¹⁶
• Opens source Satellite imagery site (openinframap) counted 2188 solar installations in Spain.
• The production capacity and location of 332 solar farms range from 90 KW to 590 MW.¹⁷

Projected:

9 Solar farms are under construction in Spain.¹⁸

No data was found.

Mordor Intelligence estimates that Spain’s solar energy market will expand from 34.49 gigawatts in 2024 to 72.32 gigawatts by 2029, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of 15.96%.¹⁹

• Solar photovoltaic Engineer Salary: 4669 USD / month.²⁰
• Solar photovoltaic Installer Salary: 3502 USD/ month.²¹

The current population of Spain is 47,471,576 as of Sunday, July 14, 2024.²²

Using data from 600+ commercial and office properties, the average rent for factory and office is estimated to be:

Rent for Factory: 19.785 USD per meter-square per month.²³

Rent for Office Space: 36.967 USD per meter-square per month.²⁴

Industrial Electricity Rates: USD 0.144 per kWh in December 2023

Water Costs: 1 USD/m³ for industrial use and 2.14 USD/m³ for domestic use.²⁵²⁶

Key Components of Administrative Costs

Salaries and Wages:

• Photovoltaic Engineer Salary: 4669 USD/ month.²⁰
• Photovoltaic Installer Salary: 3502 USD/ month.²¹

Insurance: ²⁷

The average spending per capita in the Property Insurance market in Spain is estimated to be  26.77  USD  by the year 2024.

• Total installed electricity generation capacity: 124.7 GW²⁸
• Total generation: 266.8 TWh
• Total demand: 244 TWh
• Per capita generation: 5677kWh²⁹

Generation mix:

Spain produces its electricity from various sources: natural gas (23.77%), wind power (23.44%), nuclear energy (21.06%), solar power (16.71%), hydroelectric power (7.42%), oil (3.98%), bioenergy (2.17%), and coal (1.45%). (2023)

Leading players:

The key players in the market (in no particular order) are:³⁰

• Red Eléctrica Corporación S.A.³¹
• Endesa SA³²
• Iberdrola SA³³
• Naturgy Energy Group SA³⁴
• Total Energies SE³⁵
• Nordex SE³⁶

Transmission & Distribution:³⁷

Spain’s electricity market is dominated by three main generators which cover 50% of the total Spanish electricity consumers:

• Grupo Endesa
• Iberdrola
• Gas Natural Fenosa.

In Spain, there are approximately 333 distribution companies.

Spain is also interconnected through various power lines with France, Andorra, Portugal, and Morocco.

Major power plants in Spain:

Thermal Power Plants:³⁸

Thermal power plants in Spain had a cumulative capacity of 38.2 GW in 2022. The top 5 thermal power plants and their production capacity in Spain are as follows:

• Arcos de la Frontera Combined Cycle Power Plant: 1,612 MW
• As Pontes Power Plant: 1,400 MW
• Cartagena Combined Cycle Power Plant: 1,200 MW
• Sagunto Combined Cycle Power Plant: 1,200 MW
• Palos de la Frontera Power Plant: 1,199 MW

Nuclear Power Plant:³⁹

Spain operates 7 nuclear power plants in 5 sites, with a total gross installed power of 7,398.7 MWe, which is crucial for the energy mix of Spain.

• Almaraz I: 1049.4 MWe
• Almaraz II: 1044.5 MWe
• Ascó I: 1032.5 MWe
• Ascó II: 1027.2 MWe
• Cofrentes: 1092 MWe
• Trillo: 1066 MWe
• Vandellós II: 1087.1 MWe

Renewable Energy sources

Wind energy:⁴⁰

Spain is one of the leading countries in wind energy production. Key wind farms in 20223 were:

• Gecama Wind Project: 331.2 MW
• El Andévalo Wind Farm: 292 MW
• Maranchón Wind Farm: 208 MW

Hydropower:⁴¹

Hydropower is another essential component of Spain’s renewable energy strategy.

• Aldeadávila Dam: 1,200 MW
• Alcántara Dam: 916 MW
• Almendra Dam: 857 MW
• Mequinenza Dam: 384 MW
• Sallente-Estany Gento: 339 MW
• Moralets-Llauset: 210 MW

Certification for solar panels⁴²⁴³

Like other European countries, Spain requires a CE “Conformité Européenne” seal for solar panels. Panels bearing this seal must have passed rigorous mechanical and electrical Testing processes.

Quality Standards & Testing

The following IEC, International Electrotechnical Commission certificates are also required for solar panels in Spain:

• IEC 61215: Evaluates electrical, mechanical, and weather-related tests.
• IEC 61701: Measures salt corrosion resistance, crucial for coastal areas.
• IEC 62716: Assesses ammonia corrosion resistance, important near livestock farms.
• IEC 61730: Checks panel construction quality and safety.

TÜV Rheinland Certification

TÜV’s tests for technical stress tests, material quality analysis and durability evaluations for solar panels.

Investments⁴⁴

Approximately $12.44 billion has been invested by different sources in solar energy development in Spain until 2020.

Banks:

• Top 10 Banks in 2020: $7.38 billion
• Santander in 2020: $1.29 billion (17.4% of total RES financing)
• CaixaBank in 2020: part of $3.48 billion for 39 RES projects globally, with a significant portion in Spain.

Investment Funds and Private Companies:

• Imagina Energia: $1.65 billion over the next ten years, including $440 million for rooftop photovoltaic panels.
• Lightsource BP: $2.2 billion planned investment over four years.

Specific Projects:

• Núñez de Balboa Photovoltaic Plant: $330 million
• Mula Photovoltaic Power Plant: $550 million
• Don Rodrigo Photovoltaic Plant: $179.3 million (including Don Rodrigo)
• ERASMO Solar Power Plant: $792 million

Government Initiatives:⁴⁵

• The first initiative implemented in Spain was Royal Decree RD 661/2007, which in 2007 established a remuneration framework to promote the use of renewable energies, especially photovoltaics.
• In 2018, Royal Decree Law 15/2018 eliminated taxes on self-consumption and simplified procedures, significantly increasing photovoltaic (PV) installations in Spain.
• In 2020, Spain’s National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) set targets for 9 GW of self-consumption capacity by 2030, potentially extending to 14 GW.

TAX Rebates:⁴⁶

These Tax rebates aim to promote renewable energy and reduce costs for homeowners.

• Property Tax (IBI) Rebates: Many municipalities offer up to 50% rebates for homeowners with photovoltaic systems.
• Tax on Constructions (ICIO) Rebates: Rebates range from 30-95% for installations requiring a building license.
• Personal Income Tax (IRPF) Deductions: Deductions between 20-60% based on energy improvements from solar installations.

Details of some notable Solar Power Spain farms are as follows:⁴⁷

Escatrón-Chiprana-Samper Solar Park

• Location: Aragon region, towns of Escatrón, Chiprana, and Samper de Calanda
• Capacity: 850 MW across 17 plants
• Production: Not specified
• Further Plans: Expansion planned for 2023 to take the total capacity to 900 MW

Núñez de Balboa Photovoltaic Plant

• Location: Extremadura region
• Capacity: 500 MW
• Production: Serves power to 250,000 homes

Mula Photovoltaic Power Plant

• Location: Mula, Murcia
• Capacity: 493.92 MW
• Production: Powers 400,000 homes

Talasol Plant

• Location: Extremadura
• Capacity: 300 MW
• Production: Powers 100,000 homes

Talayuela Solar

• Location: Cáceres, Extremadura
• Capacity: 300 MW
• Production: Not specified

Don Rodrigo

• Location: Near Seville
• Capacity: 175 MW
• Production: 300 GWh annually

Picón I, II, and III Photovoltaic Plants

• Location: Porzuna
• Capacity: 150 MW across three sites
• Production: Powers 88,500 homes

Santiz I, Guleve-Palacios del Arzobispo, and Lerapa-Valdelosa I

• Location: Salamanca region
• Capacity: 110 MW across three sites
• Production: 220 GWh annually

Projected Solar Projects in Spain

Bruc Energy Aragon Solar PV Park⁴⁸

• Capacity: 2,580 MW
• Location: Aragon
• Timeline: 2024 to 2026

Erasmo Solar PV Park⁴⁹

• Capacity: 1,200 MW
• Location: Castile-La Mancha
• Timeline: Expected to be commissioned in 2024 

Hive H2 Albamed Project Phase 1⁵⁰

• Capacity: 1,100 MW
• Location: Castile-La Mancha
• Timeline: 2025 to 2027

Endesa Spain Solar PV Park⁵¹

• Capacity: 900 MW
• Location: Spain
• Timeline: 2026 to 2027

Alcoa San Ciprian Solar PV Park⁵²

• Capacity: 800 MW
• Location: Galicia, Spain
• Timeline: 2025 to 2027

Acciona⁵³

Acciona is a major player in the Spanish solar industry, with a significant focus on developing large-scale photovoltaic plants. The company operates over 30 large photovoltaic plants worldwide, including the Extremadura I, II, and III complex in Badajoz, Spain.

Iberdrola³³

Iberdrola is a leading global energy company heavily invested in renewable energy, including solar power in Spain. The company has numerous solar projects and recently signed a power purchase agreement to supply electricity from a 553 MW solar PV plant​

The Red Electrica Group³¹

The Red Electrica Group, is responsible for the transmission and operation of the electricity grid in Spain. Its major role is, integration of solar power into Spain’s national grid.

Gransolar⁵⁴

The company is involved in numerous solar projects in Spain, contributing to the growth of the solar industry through its expertise and technology.

Exiom Solution S.A⁵⁵

Exiom is a Spanish company that manufactures and supplies solar panels and components.

Zytech Solar⁵⁶

Zytech Solar designs, manufactures, and supplies photovoltaic modules and systems. The company is involved in several solar projects in Spain, contributing to the country’s renewable energy infrastructure with its innovative product

X-ELIO Energy⁵⁷

X-ELIO is dedicated to the development, construction, and operation of solar photovoltaic plants. The company has numerous projects in Spain, contributing to the country’s renewable energy capacity and sustainability goals.