The Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has revised the targets for renewable energy generation under its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNIEC) raising that of solar PV from 37 GW to over 76 GW. It is now seeking public opinion on the same.
It raises the national renewable energy consumption target to 48% taking its share in the national electricity mix to 81%, and improves energy efficiency to 44%.
Previously, the country targeted 74% renewable energy share by 2030, expanded to 100% by 2050 (see Spain Aims For 74% RE By 2030).
The revision has been done to increase it GHG reduction target from 23% earlier to now 32% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. "The revision proposal increases the ambition to achieve neutrality in carbon emissions before 2050, curb the impact of global warming and modernize the economy: the reduction of emissions increases from 23% to 32% in 2030," explained the ministry.
Apart from solar PV that commands the highest share of renewable energy capacity by 2030, the government will now aim for 62 GW wind, 4.8 GW solar thermal, 1.4 GW biomass and 22 GW of storage capacity as well. Plans include 19 GW for self-consumption. Spain will exit coal by 2025 as nuclear energy is phased out from 7.39 GW in 2025 to 3.18 GW in 2030.
Altogether, at the end of 2030 Spain's cumulative power generation capacity is estimated to be 214 GW under the revised PNIEC. Additionally, it eyes 11 GW of electrolyzer capacity for green hydrogen.
"It includes for the first-time specific actions in railways, aviation and navigation, rural development, improvement of the integration of renewables with the environment and territory, cybersecurity, local electricity markets, gender perspective, capacity markets, life cycle analysis of buildings, among others, to reinforce the objectives and achieve greater social, economic and environmental benefits," added the ministry.
To achieve this ambition, MITECO estimates an investment of €294,000 million of which 15% will come from public funds including that provided by the European Union (EU), and 85% will be spent by private sector. Renewables are likely to absorb 40% of all investment. The country will also save more than €90,000 million in imports with these targets, it added.
Draft of the revised PNIEC strategy is available on the ministry's website for consultation till September 4, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Photovoltaic Association (UNEF) has welcomed the MITECO decision to grant an extension of 6 months to renewable energy projects to secure construction clearance for the facilities, up from July 25, 2023.
According to the association, the government had cleared environment impact statements of close to 40 GW of ground mounted solar projects last January. However, these facilities couldn't secure green signal for construction before the July 25 deadline due to 'exhaustive and rigorous environmental studies' for solar projects in the country.