Balearic Islands Aim For 100% RE By 2050

• The Parliament of the Balearic Islands has agreed on an official target to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050
• It approved the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law with 35% of renewable energy to be realized by 2030
• Under the law, solar panels have been made mandatory for all new car parks of more than 1,000 m2 and existing ones with over 1,500 m2 area, as well as for all new buildings of over 1,000 m2
• The government will offer €40 million ($45 million) to promote installation of solar PV parks through specific energy auctions for the islands

Spain's Balearic Islands are officially on track to achieve 100% renewable energy for its electricity requirements by 2050. The islands' Parliament approved the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law to have all its islands powered by clean energy by the target year.

The target will be achieved in phases, with 35% by 2030 supported by 23% reduction in energy consumption and a decrease of 40% of polluting emissions.

Solar will play a key role in this transition. Solar panels will need to be installed on new buildings of more than 1,000 m2 or those that undergo change of use or those where some integral changes are carried out.

The government has also made it mandatory for new car parks with more than 1,000 m2 and existing ones with over 1,500 m2 area to have solar panels. All isolated buildings will be supplied with renewable energy alone.

The government will offer €40 million ($45 million) to promote installation of solar PV parks through specific energy auctions for the islands.

Among other measures, the polluting power plants will be shut down in phases, beginning with the Es Murterar thermal power plant by 2020, followed by the power stations of Maó, Eivissa and Formentera.

The law makes it necessary for rental companies to have 100% electric powered vehicles by 2035 and also ban gasoline powered vehicles to operate post 2035. At least 1,000 charging points for electric vehicles will be put up by 2025.

To aid this transition, the government will allocate over €8.5 million ($9.6 million) for installation of self-consumption systems, mainly comprising PV panels.