Spain Approves Decree For Floating Solar Plants

• MITECO has approved a royal decree for floating solar PV power plants in Spain
• It will regulate such projects with a license to be offered for up to 25 years  
• Such projects can be allowed to cover between 5% and 15% of the total useful surface of the reservoirs 

The Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has approved a royal decree to promote the installation of floating solar PV projects on water bodies in the country.  

It lays down rules to regulate the installation of solar projects on state-owned reservoirs. Under these rules, such projects will be able to cover between 5% and 15% of the total useful surface of the reservoirs.  

The floating PV projects will not be installed in lakes, lagoons, or other bodies of water that are not considered highly modified or artificial.   

License to operate such floating PV projects will be granted for a maximum duration of 25 years, either through a private proposal or via a competitive selection process by the river basin authority.   

The move is aimed at increasing the country's renewable energy generation capacity, promoting energy transition and decarbonization.  

Solar PV is a leading renewable energy generation technology in Spain with an installed capacity of more than 25 GW. More is in the offing as Opina 360 counts more than 3 GW to PV capacity to have been approved during Q2/2024 (see Spain Green Signaled Over 3.5 GW RE During Q2/2024).