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Spain Green Signaled Over 3.5 GW RE During Q2/2024 

Opina 360: Solar PV Leads New Administrative Authorizations, While Wind Leads Rejected Ones

Anu Bhambhani
  • Opina 360 counts Spain to have approved over 3.5 GW of new renewable energy capacity in Q2 this year 
  • It is dominated by solar PV technology with a total 3.13 GW, and 390.7 MW wind   
  • Rejected project capacity was led by wind power with 2.15 GW, while close to 890 MW belonged to solar PV  

In the 2nd quarter of 2024, Spain granted administrative authorizations to 46 renewable energy projects, according to social research institute Opina 360. This represents a combined 3.526 GW capacity, comprising 3.135 GW of solar PV and 390.7 MW of wind power.  

Of the newly approved projects in Q2/2024, 3.25 GW has secured construction authorization that paves the way for these to start getting installed in the next few months, stated the institute based on the country's official state gazette.   

A majority of this capacity with 1.336 GW is located in Castilla y León, followed by 864.8 MW in Andalusia, and 391.3 MW in Castilla-La Mancha.     

This expands the volume of authorized solar PV projects in the country since the beginning of 2024 to date to 7.11 GW, and that of wind power to 2.37 GW.  

Additionally, 42 renewable energy projects with over 3.65 GW PV, 1.07 GW wind and 144 MW hydroelectric technologies have entered the public information phase. With these, 82 renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of over 8.37 GW were publicly exhibited during H1/2024.  

While solar PV led the renewable energy projects that received authorization during the period, Opina 360 says wind power led the capacity rejected by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO).  

It counts 7 out of 10 rejected projects for wind power representing 2.155 GW capacity, with the remaining 889.8 MW for solar PV. Reasons vary from unfavorable environmental impact assessment (EIA), expiry of access permits, and withdrawal of projects.  

The institute pegs the total volume of renewable energy rejected by the administration so far this year at 5.33 GW, including almost 2/3rds of all wind energy projects.   

In terms of energy storage, the ministry authorized a 4.6 MW storage project in the Canary Islands.      

Solar PV accounts for 20.3% of the national electricity mix in Spain with more than 25.5 GW cumulatively installed. It comprises over 5.59 GW installed in 2023 (see Spain's Cumulative Solar PV Capacity Exceeds 25.5 GW).