UNEF, the Spanish solar PV association has found a new President after  Jorge Barredo decided to step down from the position after 8 years. The new incumbent, Arancha Martinez Navarro is the global head Site & Permitting at Spanish solar power company X-Elio. Former President Barredo is the founder of X-Elio.

An industrial engineer by qualification and holding Master in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, Navarro holds more than 12 years of global experience in the solar energy industry. She was involved in installations of over 10 GW installed in the markets of Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, Japan, Chile, the US, South Africa and Australia.

“The Spanish photovoltaic sector has already demonstrated its abundant competitiveness and as president of the association I promise to continue supporting our companies to consolidate their national and international leadership,” said Navarro. “For this, as I have been doing since I joined the UNEF board, I will continue working with the same enthusiasm as Jorge Barredo and the other members of the association, so that it continues to be a driving force for our industry.”

UNEF Director General Jose Donoso credited Barredo to have led the Spanish solar industry through very tough times of policy paralysis at the national level, when it had face the introduction of the sun tax and retroactive slashing of premiums on PV installations in 2012. “We thank Jorge Barredo for his leadership throughout these years, his commitment to the photovoltaic sector, as well as his professionalism and dedication. We wish him the best of success in his new career,” stated Donoso.

In 2019, Spain grid connected 3.97 GW AC of new solar power capacity and emerged as Europe’s largest solar market (see Spain Installs About 4.6 GW DC New Solar In 2019).