Photovoltaic energy in
Spain
General
The whole spectrum of renewable energy policies is laid down in the Program for
Promotion of Renewable Energies 2005-2010 (PPER or PFER in Spanish). Revised
version of PFER 2000-2010, the strategic target of PFER is to achieve by 2010 a
12% of primary energy consumption by renewables (with, a.o., a 30.3%
contribution of renewables to electricity consumption), through a joint
combination of subsidies, tax exemptions and feed-in-tariffs for electricity
production. The total investment for the realisation of the renewable energy
plan (PPER) for the period 2005-2010 is estimated to 23,600 M€, from which 36%
(8,490 M€) would be contributed by public support (feed-in tariff electricity:
4,960 M€, biofuels: 2,850 M€, subsidy direct to the projects: 680 M€).
According to the Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the
target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption
of energy in the year 2020 for Spain is 20% (in the year 2005 the share was
8.7%). The Directive has a mandatory 10 % target for transport to be achieved by
all Member States, which refers to renewable sources as a whole, not biofuels
alone.
Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Spain
The
National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Spain was submitted
in July 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC
is 20% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year is
22.7%. According to the projection, the most important
contribution in the year 2020 is expected from wind power (78.3 TWh or
6729 ktoe, 31% of all renewable energy). Second important contribution
is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (4950 ktoe,
22% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from
hydropower (39.6 TWh or 3404 ktoe, 15% of all renewable energy). Wind
power contributes with 38.0 GW (78.3 TWh) in the year 2020 (onshore
wind 35.0 GW and 70.5 TWh, offshore wind 3.0 GW and 7.8 TWh). For solar
photovoltaic the 2020 contribution is projected to be 8.4 GW (14.3
TWh). For solar thermal the 2020 contribution is projected to be 644
ktoe. The two most important biofuels are projected to contribute 3100
ktoe (biodiesel) and 400 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. The
renewable electricity production from solid biomass amounts to 7.4 TWh
(636 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 2.6 TWh (225 ktoe). The
consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount to 4850 ktoe for
solid biomass and 100 ktoe for biogas.
Renewable Electricity:
photovoltaic energy (PV)
The
target of the renewable energy plan (2005-2010) for PV in Spain, 400MWp
at the end of 2010, has been reached in 2007 with 3 years of anticipation. The feed-in
tariff applicable in Spain up to 28 September 2008 has been that defined
by Royal Decree 661/2007 of 26 May 2007. This was especially favourable
to the installation of large size power plants. The tariff valid for
the first 25 years varied from 0.4404 €/kWh for installations smaller
than or equal to 100 kWp (0.3523 €/kWh after 25 years), to 0.4175 €/kWh
for installations between 100 kWp and 10 MWp included (and then
0.3340 €/kWh) and 0.2294€/kWh for power plants up to 50 MWp (and then
0.1838 €/kWh).
After the market cap of 371 MW specified by RD 661/2007 had been
reached, the
Spanish price regulation was revised with regard to the provisions on
photovoltaic energy. RD 1578/2008, which stipulates the amended
conditions, entered into force at the end of September 2008. The
capacity limits for the different system types are re-defined as part
of the application procedure every quarter. Prior to the conclusion of
an application procedure, the market caps specified for each system
type are published on the website of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism
and Trade (Annex III RD 1578/2008).
Redesiging the PV feed-in tariffs has the following objectives: - To optimize the FIT to guarantee a profitability more adapted for a regulated activity.
- To give a longer-term perspective.
- To better control the cost of FIT.
- To design a tariff system that internalizes the reduction cost due to technological development.
- To encourage the decrease of the cost of the installations, increasing competitiveness in the sector.
- To encourage the installation on roof to profit from distributed generation.
Two groups are defined within RD 1578/2008:
- PV
in buildings (roofs or walls): for capacities smaller or equal to 20 kW
(with a feed-in tariff of 34 €ct/kWh), and for capacities between 20 kW
and 2 MW (with a feed-in tariff of 32 €ct/kWh).
- PV in land: for capacities smaller or equal to 10 MW with a feed-in tariff of 32 €ct/kWh.
Within RD
1578/2008 the transfer of quota between the calls is foreseen. When in
a call the allowed capacity, of any of types, is not covered, the
remaining capacity will be transfered as additional capacity to base
capacity of the other type in the following call. When in a call the
allowed capacity, of both of the types, is not covered, the remaining
capacity will be transfered as additional capacity to base capacity of
the same type in the following call.
The feed-in tariff for electricity generated from solar sources may be
amended in 2012. However, this depends on technological and market developments
and on the smoothness of the distribution process (art. 15, RD 1578/2008).
The
accumulated realised PV in 2008 is estimated between 2500 and 3000 MW.
For 2009 and 2010 an additional capacity of 500 MW for each year is
expected, so that an accumulated PV capacity of more than 4000 MW
is foreseen in 2010. Epia (European Photovoltaic Industry Association)
expects solar power to be cheaper than retail electricity prices
by 2012 in Spain, but state support schemes such as feed-in tariff
must remain in place until then.
Future programme changes
expected
No information available.
Sources
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org, 2007
Photovoltaic Energy Barometer, http://www.eurobserv-er.org, April 2008
Royal Decree 661/2007, 25th May 2007
ENDS Europe: http://www.endseurope.com
New provisions on the feed-in tariff for photovoltaic energy in Spain: http://res-legal.eu/
Royal Decree 1578/2008, 26 September 2008
Hugo
Lucas (IDAE): Royal Decree 1578/2008 on the payment for the electric
production activity from solar photovoltaic technology, November 2008
Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable
sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC
and 2003/30/EC (Entry into force on June 25th, 2009), download from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009L0028:EN:NOT
Renewable energy policy; country profiles (Re-Shaping). Based on information available in October 2009, http://www.reshaping-res-policy.eu, 2009
The National Renewable Energy Action
Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on
Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm
(sourced July - December 2010)
Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable
Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap
(sourced December 2010)
Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: December 2010
This information canbe referenced without permission provided that the
source is mentioned completely and correctly: 'Interactive EurObserv'ER
Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (date of last update)'
Suggestions for improvements to the policy description can be sent to
EurObserv'ER by e-mail: project@eurobserv-er.org
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by Ademe, the French Environment and Energy management Agency. The
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