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Solar thermal 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 Heating and Cooling: solar thermal
The specific target fixed by the Government for solar thermal collectors is to achieve around 5 million m2 installed in 2010.

One of the main instruments to achieve the goals stated by PPER related to solar thermal energy is the Building Technical Code (CTE – Código Técnico de la Edificación). The use of solar thermal to produce hot water in most of the new buildings is mandatory and it is also mandatory the use of certificated solar collectors. Approved in March 2006, through Royal Decree 314/2006 of 17 March 2006, requires all new or renovated buildings to cover 30%-70% of the Domestic Hot Water demand with solar thermal energy.

Since 2006 all the subsidies are given by regional governments because the institute for Energy Diversification and Efficiency (IDAE) has transferred this activity. The requirements have remained the same, but each region decides what kind of installation is more suitable to receive subsidies. In the case of Canary region, only solar thermal installations with more than 75m² can apply for subsidies.

The national investment in 2008/2009 is 167.86 M€. The RD 661/2007 feed-in tariffs, premiums and cap & floor for solar thermal are presented below.

group subgroup Period Option a) Fixed price = Regulated tariff
€ct/kWh
Option b) Free sale with resp.: reference premium, maximum limit, minimum limit
€ct/kWh
b.1
Solar
b.1.2
Solar thermal
First 25 years 26,94 25,40 34,40 25,40
afterwards 21,55 20,32


Future programme changes expected
No information on future policy.

Sources
http://www.iea-shc.org/countries/reports/report.aspx?Country=Spain, Spain 2008 National Programme Report

Royal Decree 661/2007. 25th May 2007

http://www.estif.org/solarkeymark/skii/results/countryreports/final/SPAIN-FINAL.pdf, December 2007

http://www.estif.org/fileadmin/downloads/Solar_thermal_markets_in_Europe_2007.pdf, June 2008

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
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Last update: December 2010



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