View source for Solar power in Spain

{{Short description|None}}
{{Update|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox country solar power|country=Spain|image=Spain GHI Solar-resource-map GlobalSolarAtlas World-Bank-Esmap-Solargis.png|caption=Solar irradiation map of Spain|capacity=38.59|most_recent_year=2024|generation=58.6|most_recent_year_generation=2024|capacity_capita=816|most_recent_year_capita=2024|share=20.9%|most_recent_year_share=2024|rank=7th|most_recent_year_rank=2024}}

[[Spain]] is one of the first countries to deploy large-scale [[solar photovoltaics]], and is the world leader in [[concentrated solar power]] (CSP) production.
Spain is also one of the European countries with the most hours of sunshine. 
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 were concentrated solar power.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurobserv-er.org/photovoltaic-barometer-2023/|title=Photovoltaic Barometer 2023|page=2/7|author=|publisher=EurObserv’ER|date=2023-05-05|access-date=2023-07-09}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Red Eléctrica de España {{!}} Series estadísticas nacionales |website=www.ree.es |language=es |url= https://www.ree.es/es/estadisticas-del-sistema-electrico-espanol/series-estadisticas/series-estadisticas-nacionales |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> In the same year, solar power accounted for 11.5% of total electricity generation in the country, up from 2.4% in 2010 and less than 0.1% in 2000.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=IEA-pvps, Annual Report 2016. |website=IEA-PVPS |url= https://www.iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=6 |year=2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-electricity-solar?tab=chart&country=~ESP|title=Share of electricity production from solar - Spain|author=|publisher=Our World in Data|date=2023|access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref> Industry organization [[Solar Power Europe]] projects Spain will more than double its solar PV capacity between 2022 and 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inspain.news/spain-second-country-in-europe-with-the-most-solar-energy/|title=Spain second country in Europe with the most solar energy|author=|publisher=InSpain.news|date=2022-12-19|access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://taiyangnews.info/markets/european-union-to-exit-2022-with-over-41-gw-solar-installed/|title=European Union To Exit 2022 With Over 41 GW Solar Installed|author=Anu Bhambhani|publisher=TaiyangNews|date=2022-12-19|access-date=2023-06-20}}</ref>

The country initially had a leading role in the development of solar power. Generous prices for grid connected solar power were offered to encourage the industry. The boom in solar power installations were faster than anticipated and prices for grid connected solar power were not cut to reflect this, leading to a fast but unsustainable boom in installations. Spain would find itself second only to [[Germany]] in the world for solar power installed capacity. In the wake of the [[2008–2009 Spanish financial crisis|2008 financial crisis]], the Spanish government drastically cut its subsidies for solar power and capped future increases in capacity at 500&nbsp;MW per year, with effects upon the industry worldwide.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news | url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125193815050081615  | title= Spain's Solar-Power Collapse Dims Subsidy Model  | first= Angel | last= Gonzalez |author2=Keith Johnson   | date= 8 September 2009 | work= [[The Wall Street Journal]]  | access-date= 6 March 2011 }}</ref> 
Between 2012 and 2016, new installations stagnated in Spain while growth accelerated in other leading countries leaving Spain to lose much of its world leading status to countries such as Germany, China and Japan. The controversial "sun tax" and intimidating regulation surrounding solar self consumption introduced in 2015 were only begun to be repealed in late 2018 by the new government.
As a legacy from Spain's earlier development of solar power, the country remains a world leader in concentrated solar power. Many large concentrated solar power stations remain active in Spain and may have provided some of the impetus for large CSP developments in neighbouring Morocco. 

The 2020s are seeing a large increase in solar installations in Spain. Following three years of strong growth, the country's updated 2023 National Energy and Climate Plan anticipates solar PV capacity reaching 76 GW by 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pv-tech.org/spain-updates-necp-targets-76gw-of-solar-pv-by-2030/|title=Spain updates NECP, targets 76GW of solar PV by 2030|author=Jonathan Touriño Jacobo|publisher=PV Tech|date=2023-06-28|access-date=2023-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/spain-eyes-massive-solar-and-wind-boosts-under-new-energy-plan/2-1-1477558|title=Spain eyes massive solar and wind boosts under new energy plan|author=Gareth Chetwynd|publisher=Recharge News|date=2023-06-29|access-date=2023-07-09}}</ref>

== Installed capacity ==
{{Image frame
|width=500
|align=right
|pos=bottom
|content=<div style="margin: 15px 5px -40px -50px; font-size: 80%;"> 
{{ #invoke:Chart
|bar-chart
|width = 480
|height = 200
| stack = 1
|group 1 = 125 : 637 : 3355 : 3399 : 3840 : 4261 : 4561 : 4639 : 4646 : 4656 : 4669 : 4688 : 4707 : 8711 : 11669 : 15286 : 16987
|group 2 =11 : 11 : 61 : 232 : 532 : 999 : 1950 : 2300 : 2300: 2300 :2300 : 2300 :2300 : 2304 : 2304 : 2304 : 2304
|colors = #211873 : #ef8e39
|group names = solar PV : Solar thermal 
|units suffix = _MW
|x legends =2006 : : : : 2010 : : : : : 2015 : : : : : 2020 : : 2022
| hide group legends = 1 }} </div>
|caption=<div style="text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em;">Installed Capacity (MW)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;{{legend0|#211873|Solar PV}}&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;{{legend0|#ef8e39|Solar thermal}}&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>}}
Installed capacity grew rapidly until 2013. Between 2013 and 2018 growth was negligible in Spain, and the country fell behind many other European countries in the development of capacity, though it retained its leading position in the deployment of solar thermal power. Growth resumed again after 2018.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Installed solar generation capacity (MW)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.evwind.es/2021/02/05/wind-energy-and-solar-power-capacity-in-spain/79184|title=Wind energy and solar power capacity in Spain|publisher=Reve|date=5 February 2021|access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref>
!
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
!2019
!2020
!2021
!2022
|-align=right
|Solar PV*
|125
|637
|3,355
|3,399
|3,840
|4,261
|4,561
|4,639
|4,646
|4,656
|4,669
|4,688
|4,707
|8,711
|11,669
|15,286
|18,164
|-align=right
|Solar thermal
|11
|11
|61
|232
|532
|999
|1,950
|2,304
|2,304
|2,304
|2.304
|2,304
|2,304
|2,304
|
|
|
|-align=right
|'''Total'''
|'''136'''
|'''648'''
|'''3,416'''
|'''3,631'''
|'''4,372'''
|'''5,260'''
|'''6,511'''
|'''6,943'''
|'''6,950'''
|'''6,960'''
|'''6.973'''
|'''6,992'''
|'''7,011'''
|'''11,015'''
|
|
|
|-
| colspan="18" |<sub>*Solar PV figures include only grid-connected capacity.</sub>
|}

== Timeline of developments ==
[[File:Andasol 3.jpg|thumb|right|The 150 MW [[Andasol solar power station]] is a commercial [[parabolic trough]] [[solar thermal]] power plant, located in [[Renewable energy in Spain|Spain]]. The Andasol plant uses tanks of molten salt to store solar energy so that it can continue generating electricity even when the sun isn't shining.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saving for a rainy day|date=18 November 2011|pages=922–924|author=Edwin Cartlidge|work=Science (Vol 334)}}</ref>]]

===2004===
Through a ministerial ruling in March 2004, the Spanish government removed economic barriers to the connection of renewable energy technologies to the electricity grid. The Royal Decree 436/2004 equalised conditions for large-scale [[solar thermal]] and [[photovoltaic]] plants and guaranteed [[feed-in tariff]]s.<ref name="spain">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iea.org/impagr/cip/pdf/issue36solarp.pdf|title=Spain pioneers grid-connected solar-tower thermal power}}</ref>

===2008===
Spain added a record 2.6&nbsp;GW of solar photovoltaic power in 2008,<ref name="gtm-odyssey">{{cite web|url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/spains-renewable-energy-odyssey/|title=Spain's Renewable Energy Odyssey|last=Couture|first=Toby D.|date=23 February 2011|publisher=[[Greentech Media]]|access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> a figure almost five times that of the next record year, increasing capacity to 3.5&nbsp;GW.<ref name="bloomberg-2010-10-18">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-18/spanish-solar-projects-on-brink-of-bankruptcy-as-subsidy-policies-founder.html|title=Spain's Solar Deals on Edge of Bankruptcy as Subsidies Founder|last=Sills|first=Ben|date=18 October 2010|work=Bloomberg Markets Magazine|access-date=6 March 2011|publisher=[[Bloomberg.com]]}}</ref> Spain surpassed both Japan and the United States in 2008 as the number two market as measured by cumulative installed PV capacity behind the world leader at the time Germany, accounting for 24% of global PV capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46025.pdf|title=2008 Solar Technologies Market Report, U.S. Department of Energy.}}</ref> PV capacity added during 2008 would still account for more than half of total capacity as of 2016. In 2008 the Spanish government committed to achieving a target of 12% of primary energy from [[renewable energy]] by 2010 and by 2020 expected the installed solar generating capacity of 10 [[gigawatt|GW]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.enn.com/energy/article/38265|title=Spain expects 3,000 MW in solar plants by 2010|date=25 September 2008|publisher=Environmental News Network|access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref>

===2010–2011===
Since 2010, Spain has been the world's leader in [[concentrated solar power]] (CSP). Spain is leapfrogged by [[Solar power in Italy|Italy]] during 2011 following a later solar boom there to lose its position as the world's second largest installer of solar PV.

===2012===
By the end of 2012, 4.5 GW of solar photovoltaics had been installed, and in that year 8.2 TWh of electricity was produced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro-jdp9.pdf|title=Photovoltaic Barometer}}</ref> New installations of solar photovoltaics have slowed down significantly to around 300 MW during 2012. By the end of 2012 Spain had also installed over 2,000 MW of CSP.

===2014–2016===
[[File:Foto aére de solnovas y torre junio 2010.jpg|thumb|right|The first three units of [[Solnova Solar Power Station|Solnova]] in the foreground, with the two towers of the [[PS10]] and [[PS20]] solar power stations in the background.]]Almost no new solar capacity is added during this period following the removal of government [[feed-in tariff]]s. Having promoted the solar industry with large government subsidies during earlier periods, the system now operates under a 180-degree turn with a punitive 'sun tax' applied to new PV systems which would otherwise flourish. Spain has been cited as a model in how not to develop renewables.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/spain-is-a-case-study-in-how-not-to-foster-renewables |title=Spain Is a Case Study in How Not to Foster Renewables |access-date=4 July 2017}}</ref> The hoped for growth in self consumption solar generation during 2016 fails to materialise due to delays to reforms following the extended time taken to form a government, albeit with just one party opposed to reforms in this area.<ref name=":1" />

===2017===
In May 2017, Spain held an auction for new renewable capacity to be online by 2020. Solar projects won only 1 MW of the 3000 MW awarded. After complaints by the solar industry which felt the auction terms favoured [[wind power]], another auction occurred in July. In this auction, solar projects received 3,909 MW and wind received 1,128 MW.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://cleantechnica.com/2017/07/28/spain-awards-4-gw-solar-1-gw-wind-renewables-auction/ |title= Spain Awards 4 Gigawatts Solar & 1 Gigawatt Wind In Renewables Auction |website= [[CleanTechnica]] |first= Joshua S |last= Hill |date= 28 July 2017}}</ref><ref>[https://cleantechnica.com/2017/05/22/european-energy-auctions-yield-ever-lower-wind-energy-prices-germany-spain/ European Energy Auctions Yield Ever-Lower Wind Energy Prices In Germany & Spain], ''CleanTechnica'', Joshua S Hill, 22 May 2017</ref> Financing, land acquisition and solar panel price fluctuations could reduce the actual amount of solar power installed.

===2018===
A new sector of the market begins to make headway in the Spanish market following the easing of regulations on self consumption generation. 261.7 MW of new solar power was installed, of which just 26 MW were connected to the grid and the remainder, 235.7 MW being self-generating installations.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/02/05/inenglish/1549357123_580894.html|title=Self-generated energy soars in Spain as solar panels plunge in price|last=Planelles|first=Manuel|date=6 February 2019|work=El País|access-date=5 July 2019|language=en|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> It is expected that this could increase to 300 to 400 MW per year following further easing of regulations in May 2018.<ref name=":2" /> Renewable energy auctions held in the previous year have yet to show much impact on grid connected capacity but expected to make a considerable change during 2019. According to industry sources the 3.9 GW tendered through government auctions has been dwarfed by huge merchant and power purchase agreements bringing the combined total under consideration to 29 GW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pv-tech.org/news/economics-not-tenders-driving-spains-solar-resurgence|title=Economics not tenders driving Spain's solar resurgence|website=PV Tech|date=23 April 2018 |language=en|access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> The re-emerging boom in Spanish solar PV is not being driven by subsidies or government tenders but as a result of solar being a highly cost effective proposition for electricity needs.

=== 2023 ===
Spain is poised to become a major contributor to Europe's renewable energy landscape, supported by its robust solar potential and favorable market conditions. In 2023, Spain is on track to increase its solar capacity by 4 GW. The country also has ambitions to install an additional 19 GW of new capacity between 2022 and 2025, which would make it home to the largest solar pipeline in Europe. However, Spain grapples with lengthy permitting processes, which can take up to five years, posing a significant hurdle to project development. To address this challenge, the government introduced new regulations in March 2023, streamlining permitting for projects below 150 MW capacity and with low or medium [[environmental impact]]. These measures aim to reduce permitting times to approximately two years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-08 |title=Spain's bulging solar pipeline heaps pressure on permitting |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spains-bulging-solar-pipeline-heaps-pressure-permitting-2022-12-08/ |website=Reuters}}</ref>

== Solar thermal power plants ==
[[Image:PS10 solar power tower 2.jpg|right|thumb|The 11 megawatt [[PS10 solar power tower]] produces electricity from the sun using 624 large movable mirrors called [[heliostat]]s.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible autocollapse"
 |+ {{nowrap|'''Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants list'''}}
 |-
 ! Name of Plant !!<br/>Net Power<br/> MW(e)!!GW·h<br/>/year!!Capacity<br/>factor!! Completed
 |-
 | [[PS10 solar power plant|PS10]] || 10 || 23.4 || 0.24 || 2007
 |-
 | [[Andasol Solar Power Station|Andasol 1]] || 50 || 165 || 0.41 || 2008
 |-
 | [[PS20 solar power plant|PS20]] || 20 || 48 || 0.27 || 2009
 |-
 | Eureka || 2 ||  || || 2009, June<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abengoasolar.com/corp/export/sites/solar/resources/pdf/en/dossier_prensa_solar_en.pdf|title=Abengoa Solar Business Group}}</ref>
 |-
 | Andasol 2 || 50 || || || 2009
 |-
 | [[Puerto Errado|Puerto Errado 1]] || 1.5 || || || 2009
 |-
 | [[Puertollano Solar Thermal Power Plant|Puertollano]] || 50 || || || 2009
 |-
 | La Risca || 50 || || || 2009
 |-
 | [[Extresol Solar Power Station|Extresol 1]] || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | Extresol 2 || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | La Florida || 50 || || || 2010, July
 |-
 | Majadas || 50 || || || 2010, August
 |-
 | [[Solnova Solar Power Station|Solnova 1]] || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | Solnova 3 || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | [[Alvarado I]] || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | Solnova 4 || 50 || || || 2010
 |-
 | La Dehesa || 50 || || || 2010, November
 |-
 | Palma del Rio 2 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Manchasol 1 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Manchasol 2 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | [[Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant|Gemasolar]] || 20 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Palma del Rio 1 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Lebrija 1 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Andasol 3 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Helioenergy 1 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Astexol 3 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Arcosol 50 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Termosol 50 || 50 || || || 2011
 |-
 | Helioenergy 2 || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | [[Valle Solar Power Station|Valle 1]] || 50 ||170|| || 2012
 |-
 | [[Valle Solar Power Station|Valle 2]] || 50 ||170|| || 2012
 |-
 | Puerto Errado 2 || 30 || || || 2012
 |-
 | Aste 1A || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | Aste 1B || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | Moron || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | Helios 1 || 50 || || || 2012, May
 |-
 | Solaben 3 || 50 || || || 2012, June
 |-
 | Guzman || 50 || || || 2012, July
 |-
 | La Africana || 50 || || || 2012, July
 |-
 | Olivenza 1 || 50 || || || 2012, July
 |-
 | Helios 2 || 50 || || || 2012, August
 |-
 | Extresol 3 || 50 || || || 2012, August
 |-
 | Orellana || 50 || || || 2012, August
 |-
 | Solaben 2 || 50 || || || 2012, October
 |-
 | Solarcor 1 || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | Solarcor 2 || 50 || || || 2012
 |-
 | [[Termosolar Borges]] || 25 || || || 2012, December
|}
[[Image:PS20andPS10.jpg|right|thumb|Solar Towers from left: [[PS10]], [[PS20]].]]
[[File:Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant 3.jpg|thumb|[[Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant]] was the first concentrated solar power plant to provide 24‑hour power.]]

In March 2007, Europe's first commercial concentrating [[solar power tower]] plant was opened near the sunny [[Andalusia]]n city of [[Seville]]. The 11 MW plant, known as the [[PS10 solar power tower]], produces electricity with 624 large heliostats.  Each of these mirrors has a surface measuring 120 square meters (1,290 square feet) that concentrates the Sun's rays to the top of a 115-meter (377&nbsp;feet) high tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.<ref name="sunny">{{cite web | url= http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2006/2006-06-30-02.asp | title= Sunny Spain to Host Europe's First Large Solar Thermal Plant |date= 30 June 2006 |publisher= Environment News Service | access-date= 6 March 2011 }}</ref>

The [[Andasol 1 solar power station]] is Europe's first [[parabolic trough]] commercial power plant (50 MWe), located near [[Guadix]] in the [[province of Granada]], also in Andalusia (the plant is named after the region).  The Andasol 1 power plant went online in November 2008, and has a [[thermal storage]] system which absorbs part of the heat produced in the solar field during the day. This heat is then stored in a [[molten salt]] mixture and used to generate electricity during the night, or when the sky is overcast.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54019&src=rss |title=Andasol 1 Goes Into Operation}}</ref>

A 15 MWe solar-only power tower plant, the [[Solar Tres]] project, is in the hands of the Spanish company SENER, employing molten salt technologies for receiving and energy storage. Its 16-hour molten salt storage system will be able to deliver power around the clock. The Solar Tres project has received a €5&nbsp;million grant from the EC's Fifth Framework Programme.<ref name="spain" />

Solar thermal power plants designed for solar-only generation are well matched to summer noon peak loads in prosperous areas with significant cooling demands, such as Spain. Using thermal energy storage systems, solar thermal operating periods can even be extended to meet base-load needs.<ref name="spain" />

[[Abengoa Solar]] began commercial operation of a 20-[[megawatt]] solar power tower plant near [[Seville]] in late April 2009. Called the [[PS20]], the plant uses a field of 1,255 flat mirrors, or [[heliostat]]s, to concentrate sunlight on a receiver mounted on a central tower. Water pumped up the tower and through the receiver boils into steam, which is then directed through a turbine to produce electricity. The new facility is located adjacent to one with half its capacity, called PS10, which was the world's first commercial solar power tower plant. According to Abengoa Solar, the new facility is exceeding its predicted power output.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12525 |title=eere.energy.gov |access-date=21 May 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194157/http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=12525 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Photovoltaics ==
{{main|Solar power in the European Union|Growth of photovoltaics}}

=== Solar PV market segmentation  ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:235px; margin-top:4px; margin-left:5px; margin-bottom:0px;"
! colspan="2" |Installed PV capacity in Spain by class size in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |title=Existing and Future PV Prosumer Concepts |page=18 |publisher=pvp4grid.eu |url= https://www.pvp4grid.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/D2.1_Existing-future-prosumer-concepts_PVP4G-1.pdf |year=2012}}</ref>
|-
|<10&nbsp;kW
| align="right" |2%
|-
|10-100&nbsp;kW
| align="right" |27%
|-
|100-500&nbsp;kW
| align="right" |43%
|-
|>500&nbsp;kW
| align="right" |28%
|}
Utility scale solar PV dominated the cumulative installed capacity in 2018 accounting for over 75% of the total in Spain although some sources would not define smaller sized installations as utility scale. Only 2% of Spain's installations in 2017 were in the size typical for residential rooftop solar. This is typically the situation in European countries which had a short-term generous feed in their tariff system with little attention to policy consistency and scale of installations. As of 2018, 19% of Europe's cumulative PV capacity was installed on residential rooftops, and about 30% on commercial roofs, while the industrial segment accounted for 17%, and the utility market for 34%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SolarPower Europe's Global Market Outlook 2019 – 2023. |page=82 |url=http://www.solarpowereurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SolarPower-Europe-Global-Market-Outlook-2019-2023.pdf |year=2019 |access-date=10 July 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215004156/https://www.solarpowereurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SolarPower-Europe-Global-Market-Outlook-2019-2023.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The government projects an increase in solar PV capacity by approximately 30 GW, rising from 9 GW in 2020 to 21.7 GW by 2025, and reaching 39.2 GW by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Spain 2021 - Energy Policy Review |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/2f405ae0-4617-4e16-884c-7956d1945f64/Spain2021.pdf |website=International Energy Agency}}</ref>

==== Residential solar PV capacity ====

According to a report on behalf of the European Commission Spain had just 49 MW of residential solar PV capacity with just 12,000 residential solar PV prosumers in the country representing only 0.1% of households as of 2015.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/study-residential-prosumers-energy-union_en.pdf|title=Study on 'Residential Prosumers in the European Energy Union' , pg. 196}}</ref> The average size of residential solar PV installations in Spain moving forwards to 2030 is 3.94&nbsp;kW.<ref name=":3" /> The technical potential for residential solar PV in Spain is estimated at 13,620 MW.<ref name=":3" /> The United Kingdom, a relative latecomer to Solar PV development, had 2,499 MW of residential solar PV installed as of 2015.<ref name=":3" /> At the end of 2023, Spain had 2,400 MW of residential solar PV, most of it tied to the grid.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Spain’s Rooftop Solar Owners Weren’t Spared From the |url=https://www.energyconnects.com/news/renewables/2025/may/why-spain-s-rooftop-solar-owners-weren-t-spared-from-the-blackout/ |website=Energy Connects |language=en |date=3 May 2025}}</ref> <gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:PV solar parking.jpg|PV solar parking lot in [[Madrid]]
File:Façana Fotvoltaica MNACTEC.JPG|[[Building-integrated photovoltaics|BIPV]] façade at [[MNACTEC]], near [[Barcelona]]
File:P1020564 - Refugi d'Estany Llong.JPG|An isolated mountain hut with [[Stand-alone power system|stand-alone]] PV system in [[Catalonia]]
File:Depuradora de Lluc.JPG|[[solar PV system]] at a sewage treatment plant in [[Santuari de Lluc]] ([[Mallorca]])
File:Enerxía solar conectada á rede para a súa venda. Galicia.jpg|[[solar PV system]] at a port warehouse in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]
</gallery>

==== Large PV roofs  ====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-top:0px;"
|+Selected Large Photovoltaic Roofs in Spain<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pvresources.com/en/pvpowerplants/top50pvroofs.php|title=Large Photovoltaic Roofs|website=pvresources.com|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>
!Location
!Organisation<br/>(linked)
!Online
!Capacity<br/>(MW)
|-
|''Figueruelas''
|GM facility
| align="right" |2008
| align="right" |11.8
|-
|''Martorell''
|[[SEAT|Seat al Sol, SEAT facility]]
| align="right" |2010–2013
| align="right" |11.0
|-
|''Castala''
|Actiu Technology Park
| align="right" |2008
| align="right" |5.2
|}

At the time of opening, the General Motors facility at Figueruelas was the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) roof, consisting of 85,000 lightweight panels, thereby reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 6,700 tonnes per year.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jul/09/solarpower.renewableenergy |title=GM installs world's biggest rooftop solar panels |last=Keeley |first=Graham |date=8 July 2008 |work=The Guardian |access-date=24 July 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> GM planned to install solar panels at eleven other plants across Europe.
{{clear|right}}

==== Utility-scale systems ====

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible autocollapse"
|+ {{nowrap|'''Spain's largest photovoltaic (PV) power plants'''}}<ref name="PV"/>
|-
! Name of Plant
! DC<br/>{{nowrap|Peak Power}} (MW)
! {{nowrap|GW·h/year}}<ref name="PV">PV Resources.com (2009). [https://www.pvresources.com/en/top50pv.php World's largest photovoltaic power plants]</ref>
! Capacity factor
! Notes 
<!-- |-
 | [[Francisco Pizarro]], Torrecillas de la Tiesa || 590 ||  || || 2022 -->
|-
| [[Núñez de Balboa Photovoltaic Power Plant]] || 500 ||  || || Commissioned April 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Europe's largest solar PV plant, a 500MW facility in Spain, begins production |website=RenewEconomy |location=Australia |url= https://reneweconomy.com.au/europes-largest-solar-pv-plant-a-500mw-facility-in-spain-begins-production-46634/ |date=14 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mula Photovoltaic Power Plant]] || 494 ||  || || Completed July 2019
|-
| [[Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park]] || 60 || 85  || 0.16 || Completed September 2008 
|-
| [[Puertollano Photovoltaic Park]] || 47 || || || 2008
|-
|nowrap| [[Planta Solar La Magascona & La Magasquila]] || 34.5 || || ||
|-
| [[Planta Solar Dulcinea]]<ref name="PV"/> || 31.8 ||  ||  || Completed 2009
|-
| [[Merida/Don Alvaro Solar Park]] || 30 ||  ||  || Completed September 2008
|-
| [[Planta Solar Ose de la Vega]] || 30 ||  ||  ||
|-
| [[Arnedo Solar Plant]] || 30 ||  ||  || Completed October 2008
|-
| [[Merida/Don Alvaro Solar Park]] || 30 ||  ||  || Completed September 2008
|-
| [[Planta Fotovoltaico Casas de Los Pinos]] || 28 |||| ||
|-
| [[Planta solar Fuente Álamo]] || 26 || 44 || 0.19 ||
|-
| [[Planta fotovoltaica de Lucainena de las Torres]] || 23.2 ||  ||  || Completed August 2008 
|- 
| [[Parque Fotovoltaico Abertura Solar]] || 23.1 || 47 || 0.23 || 
|-
| [[Parque Solar Hoya de Los Vicentes]] || 23 || 41 || 0.20 || 
|-
| [[Huerta Solar Almaraz]] || 22.1 ||  || || Completed September 2008 
|-
| [[Parque Solar El Coronil 1]] || 21.4 || || ||
|-
| [[Solarpark Calveron]] || 21.2 || 40 || 0.22 || 
|-
| [[El Bonillo Solar Park]] || 20 ||  ||  || Completed October 2008
|-
| [[Huerta Solar Almaraz]] || 20 ||  ||  || Completed September 2008 
|-
| [[Granadilla de Abona Photovoltaic Park]] || 20 || || || Completed 2008
|-
| [[Planta solar fotovoltaico Calasparra]] || 20 ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[Planta Solar La Magascona]] || 20 || 42 || 0.24 || 
|-
| [[Beneixama photovoltaic power plant]]<ref>Citysolar (2007). [http://www.city-solar-ag.com/index.php?id=191 Solar park of the superlative]</ref> || 20 || 30 || 0.17 || Tenesol, Aleo, and [[Solon SE]] solar modules with [[Q-Cells]]
|-
| [[Planta de energía solar Mahora]] || 15 ||  ||  || Completed September 2008 
|-
| [[Planta Solar de Salamanca]] || 13.8 || n.a. ||  || 70,000 [[Kyocera]] panels
|-
| [[Parque Solar Guadarranque]] || 13.6 || 20 || 0.17 || 
|- 
| [[Lobosillo Solar Park]] || 12.7 || n.a. ||  || Chaori and YingLi modules 
|-
| [[Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Villafranca]] || 12 ||  ||  || High concentration PV technology 
|-
| [[Monte Alto photovoltaic power plant]] || 9.5 || 14 || 0.17 ||
|-
| [[Viana Solar Park]] || 8.7 || 11 || 0.14 || 
|}
[[Photovoltaics]] (PV) convert sunlight into electricity and many solar [[photovoltaic power stations]] have been built in Spain.<ref name="PV" /> As of November 2010, the largest PV power plants in Spain include the [[Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park]] (60 MW), [[Puertollano Photovoltaic Park]] (47.6 MW), [[Planta Solar La Magascona & La Magasquila]] (34.5 MW), [[Arnedo Solar Plant]] (34 MW), and [[Planta Solar Dulcinea]] (31.8 MW).<ref name="PV" />

[[BP Solar]] begun constructing a new solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing plant at its European headquarters in Tres Cantos, [[Madrid]].<ref name="BP">{{Cite web|url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2007/03/bp-solar-to-expand-its-solar-cell-plants-in-spain-and-india-47861.html|title=BP Solar to Expand Its Solar Cell Plants in Spain and India|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418182750/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2007/03/bp-solar-to-expand-its-solar-cell-plants-in-spain-and-india-47861.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> For phase one of the Madrid expansion, BP Solar aimed to expand its annual cell capacity from 55 MW to around 300 MW. Construction of this facility was underway, with the first manufacturing line expected to be fully operational in 2009.<ref name="BP" /> The new cell lines would use innovative screen-printing technology. By fully automating wafer handling, the manufacturing lines would be able to handle the very thinnest of wafers available and ensure the highest quality.<ref name="BP" /> Thin wafers are of particular importance since there has been a silicon shortage in recent years. However, after the new national law limiting installed power by year, in April 2009 BP Solar closed its factories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=3050559&contentId=7052188|title=BP Solar closes its Spanish factories}}</ref>

Since the beginning of 2007, [[Aleo Solar]] AG has also been manufacturing high-quality solar modules for the Spanish market at its own factory in Santa Maria de Palautordera near Barcelona. In 2014 SITECNO S.A. took over this facility<ref name="BP" />

=== Regional PV distribution ===
[[File:Watts per capita Spain.svg|thumb|410px|PV capacity in watts per capita by autonomous communities in 2013<ref name=epia-2014>{{cite web|title=Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014–2018|url=http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/EPIA_Global_Market_Outlook_for_Photovoltaics_2014-2018_-_Medium_Res.pdf|website=epia.org|publisher=EPIA – European Photovoltaic Industry Association|access-date=12 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625154728/http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/EPIA_Global_Market_Outlook_for_Photovoltaics_2014-2018_-_Medium_Res.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2014|page=24|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| style="width: 75%; font-size: 0.95em; paddingleft: 5px;"
|-
| valign=top |
{{legend|#FFB380|&lt;1 watt}}
{{legend|#FF9955|1—10 watts}}
{{legend|#FF7F2A|10—50 watts}}
{{legend|#FF6600|50—100 watts}}
{{legend|#D45500|100—200 watts}}
| valign=top |
{{legend|#AA4400|200—350 watts}}
{{legend|#803300|350—500 watts}}
{{legend|#552200|500—750 watts}}
{{legend|#2B1100|&gt;750 watts}}
|}
]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:left; text-align: right;"
|+Installed PV capacity in megawatts
|-
! Autonomous Communities!! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2022 !! Watts per<br> capita (2022)
|-
|align=left | [[Andalusia]] || 765 || 822 || 4,163 || 488
|-
|align=left | [[Aragon]] || 142 || 146 || 1,851 || 1,408
|-
|align=left | [[Asturias]] || 1 || 1 || 1 ||
|-
|align=left | [[Balearic Islands]] || 60 || 66 || 225 || 183
|-
|align=left | [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] || 20 || 23 || 51 || 23
|-
|align=left | [[Canary Islands]] || 133 || 138 || 212 || 94
|-
|align=left | [[Cantabria]] || 2 || 2 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left | [[Castile-La Mancha]] || 897 || 923 || 4,048 || 1,974
|-
|align=left | [[Castile and León]] || 410 || 467 || 1,438 || 605
|-
|align=left | [[Catalonia]] || 202 || 234 || 295 || 38
|-
|align=left | [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]] || 0.1 || 0.1 || 
|-
|align=left | [[Community of Madrid]] || 38 || 48 || 63 || 9
|-
|align=left | [[Extremadura]] || 492 || 558 || 5,347 || 5,076
|-
|align=left | [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] || 10 || 12 || 18 || 6
|-
|align=left | [[La Rioja (Spain)|La Rioja]] || 83 || 89 || 99 || 313
|-
|align=left | [[Navarre]] || 142 || 155 || 166 || 251
|-
|align=left | [[Region of Murcia]] || 357 || 404 || 1,384 || 908
|-
|align=left | [[Valencian Community]] || 277 || 313 || 419 || 82
|-
! colspan=5 style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.85em; text-align: left; padding: 6px 2px 4px 4px" | Source:<ref>[http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Global-Market-Outlook-2016.pdf Global Market Outlook 2016] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320005826/http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Global-Market-Outlook-2016.pdf |date=20 March 2013 }} pg. 71</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1032394/installed-photovoltaic-capacity-by-autonomous-community-in-spain/|title=Solar photovoltaic capacity in Spain in 2022, by autonomous community|author=Lucía Fernández|publisher=Statista|date=2023-06-14|access-date=2023-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/445549/population-of-spain-by-autonomous-community/|title=Population of Spain in 2022, by autonomous community|author=|publisher=Statista|date=2023-07-21|access-date=2023-07-23}}</ref>
|}

==Policies, laws and incentives==
[[Image:Paneles solares en Cariñena, España, 2015-01-08, DD 08.JPG|right|thumb|Solar panels in [[Cariñena, Aragon]] ]]

===New technical building code===
In 2006, Spain implemented a regulatory instrument of national jurisdiction promulgated by the Royal Decree 314/2006 referred to as the technical [[building code]] ([[:es:Código Técnico de la Edificación|TBC or CTE in Spanish]]) to regulate the basic quality requirements of buildings and their respective installations concerning thermal and photovoltaic solar energy. It applies to new constructions as well as any modifications made on any existing building with the final goal to guarantee and promote the use of renewable sources of energy.<ref>{{cite web |title=CTE |url=https://www.codigotecnico.org/index.html |website=Código Técnico de la Edificación}}</ref>

Concerning thermosolar energy, Spain was the first country in Europe to enforce the integration of solar thermal systems in new constructed or refurnished buildings to cover from 30 to 70% of the Domestic Hot Water (DHW) demand. Article 15.4 of the TBC states that "buildings with foreseen demand for hot water or the conditioning of a covered swimming pool, part of the thermal energy needs shall be covered by incorporating systems for the collection, storage and use of low temperature solar energy [...]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.estif.org/fileadmin/estif/content/policies/downloads/CTE_solar_thermal_sections_ENGLISH.pdf|title=The Spanish Technical Building Code, Article 15.4}}</ref>

In relation to Photovoltaic power, Article 15.5 requires the incorporation of "systems for the collection and transformation of solar energy into electric power by photovoltaic processes for proprietary use or supply to the network".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.estif.org/fileadmin/estif/content/policies/downloads/CTE_solar_thermal_sections_ENGLISH.pdf|title=The Spanish Technical Building Code, Article 15.5}}</ref> This policy triggered the production of this type of renewable energy positioning Spain on top of the largest producers of photovoltaic electricity in the world by 2009.<ref>{{cite book |last1=A. Prieto, Pedro |title=Spain's Photovoltaic Revolution: The Energy Return on Investment |publisher=Springer |pages=20 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4419-9437-0 |series=SpringerBriefs in Energy |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4419-9436-3}}</ref>

===Subsidy reductions===
In the wake of the [[2008–2009 Spanish financial crisis|2008 financial crisis]], the Spanish government drastically cut its subsidies for solar power and capped future increases in capacity at 500&nbsp;MW per year, with effects upon the industry worldwide. "The solar industry in 2009 has been undermined by [a] collapse in demand due to the decision by Spain", according to Henning Wicht, a solar-power analyst.<ref name="wsj"/> 
In 2010, the Spanish government went further, retroactively cutting subsidies for existing solar projects, aiming to save several [[billion]] euro it owed.<ref name="gtm-odyssey"/><ref name="ft-investors">{{cite news
 | url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2982e50-1a95-11e0-b100-00144feab49a.html 
 | title= Investors may walk after Spain's solar cut 
 | first= Steve
 | last= Johnson
 | date= 9 January 2011
| work= Financial Times 
 | access-date= 1 March 2011 }}</ref> 
According to the Photovoltaic Industry Association, several hundred photovoltaic plant operators may face bankruptcy.<ref name="bloomberg-2010-08-01">{{cite web
 | url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-01/spain-proceeds-with-plans-to-cut-subsidies-for-new-solar-power-stations.html
 | title= Spain Proceeds With Plans to Cut Solar Subsidies After Talks Break Down 
 | first= Ben
 | last= Sills
 | date= 1 August 2010
| publisher= [[Bloomberg.com]]
 | access-date= 7 March 2011 }}</ref> 
Phil Dominy of [[Ernst & Young]], comparing the feed-in tariff reductions in [[Solar power in Germany|Germany]] and [[Solar power in Italy|Italy]], said; "Spain stands out as an example of how not to do it".<ref>{{cite web
 | url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/sun-setting-on-european-solar-subsidies/story-e6frg6so-1226016112557 
 | title= Sun setting on European solar subsidies 
 | first= Peter
 |last= Wilson
 | date= 5 March 2011
|work= [[The Australian]] 
 | access-date= 6 March 2011 }}</ref> 
As a result, a Spanish association of solar power producers has announced its intention to go to court over the government's plans to cap solar subsidies. In 2014 alternative energy group NextEra filed a complaint against Spain at the [[International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes]].<ref name=nextera>{{cite web
 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/spain-nextera-lawsuit-idUSL6N0OC38O20140526
 | title= U.S.'s NextEra files complaint over Spain's new renewable energy rules
 | date= 26 May 2014 |work= [[Reuters]]}}</ref>

==Research and development==
The [[Plataforma Solar de Almería]] (PSA), part of the Center for Energy, Environment and Technological Research (CIEMAT), is a center for research, development, and testing of concentrating solar power technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.psa.es/webeng/instalaciones/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515090445/http://www.psa.es/webeng/instalaciones/index.html |url-status=dead |title=General Description of the PSA |archive-date=15 May 2007 |access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref> ISFOC<ref>[http://www.isfoc.es isfoc.es]</ref> in Puertollano is a development institute for concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) which evaluates CPV technologies at the pilot production scale to optimise operation and determine cost. [[Technical University of Madrid]] has a photovoltaic research group.<ref>[http://www.ies.upm.es/ ies.upm.es] – Instituto Energía Solar</ref>

''Solar Concentra'' is the Spanish technology platform for [[concentrated solar power]] (CSP).<ref>[https://www.solarconcentra.org/en solarconcentra.org]</ref> It was created in 2010, and it combines the efforts of the different agents of the CSP sector in Spain.

==See also==
* [[Growth of photovoltaics]]
* [[List of renewable energy topics by country]]
* [[Net metering]]
* [[Renewable energy in Spain]]
* [[Solar energy in the European Union]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.iea.org/impagr/cip/pdf/issue36SolarP.pdf Spain pioneers grid-connected solar-tower thermal power]
*[https://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL1051297620071010?sp=true Photovoltaic solar power grows fast in Spain]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jul/09/solarpower.renewableenergy GM installs world's biggest rooftop solar panels]
*[https://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=is-the-sun-setting-on-solar-power-in-spain Is the Sun Setting on Solar Power in Spain?]

{{Portal bar|Renewable energy|Energy|Spain}}

{{Europe topic |prefix=Solar power in}}
{{Solar power in Europe}}
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[[Category:Solar power in Spain| ]]