Spain to hold 3-GW renewable energy auction in the first half of 2017
Spain's Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism has announced that the country is to hold a 3-GW renewable energy auction in the first half of 2017.
Spain is currently far ahead of forecast targets for achieving the goal of 20% renewables in its total energy consumption by 2020. The country posted a 17.3% penetration rate by renewables in final energy consumption in 2014, including biofuels. This compares with the forecast rate of 12.1%. The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism forecasts a similar figure for 2015. Bearing in mind that it was a year of lower-than-average water resources and little wind, this confirms an upward trend in penetration by renewables.
According to Eurostat, Spain has a higher rate of penetration by renewables than the European Union average. Furthermore, Spain is ahead of most of the countries in the same peer group (such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands or Belgium), both in terms of having a higher rate of penetration by renewables and because it is closer to achieving its target for 2020.
The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism estimates that, with the measures adopted in recent years, Spain will show a penetration rate by renewables in total energy consumption of approximately 18.5% to 19% by 2020.
A number of actions have been taken in recent years to foster the penetration of renewables: auction of new wind power (500 MW) and biomass power (200 MW); introduction of wind power in the Canary Islands (450 MW); specific tax regime for biogas, biomass, cogeneration and hydro-power (120 MW); increased penetration target for biofuels in the automotive industry (up to 8.5% by 2020), etc.
In terms of the electricity system, the penetration by renewables in the generation mix has continued to grow in recent years. In the first half of 2016, 50.6% of the electricity produced was of renewable origin. Furthermore, solar (photovoltaic and thermo-solar) technologies have grown from accounting for 3.4% of the generation mix in 2011 to 5% in 2015 (even rising to 5.6% in 2016 to date).
Country news
-
-
December 19, 2016
Urbaser - Meridiam team emerges a frontrunner for Spanish waste to energy PPP
Urbaser-Meridiam consortium has emerged as the frontrunner for the the Zubieta waste-to-energy plant PPP. The team has submitted the lowest bid for the project.
Read more -
November 22, 2016
Everwood acquires 15 Spanish PV installations
Everwood Capital S.G.E.I.C., S.A. acquires 15 photovoltaic installations in Spain. 10 of the installations are located at the 50 MW Olmedilla de Alarcón plant in Cuenca and five at the 900 KW Gerindote plant in Toledo. Read more -
November 04, 2016
Abraxa refinances solar plant in Badajoz
Abraxa has announced it has refinanced a solar at Valdecaballeros in Badajoz, Spain. Read more -
November 02, 2016
Three bidders in Spanish waste to energy PPP
The government of Guipuzkoa, Basque country (Spain), has announced that three consortia have submitted bids for the Zubieta waste-to-energy plant. Read more -
October 31, 2016
Abengoa restructuring agreement supported by 86 % of creditors
Abengoa has submitted to Seville Mercantile Court number 2, the request for approval of its restructuring agreement that has received the support from 86 % percent of financial creditors, thereby exceeding the majorities that the Insolvency Law requires for approval, after being validated and certified by the independent auditor Deloitte. Read more
