The photovoltaic energy will meet the objectives of the TRUNK: the photovoltaic industry increased exports by 10% to more than 4 billion euros in 2023. The sector of solar energy last year it contributed more than 18,000 million euros to Spain’s GDP, equivalent to 1.23% of the total. With 3.6% invested in R&D, national photovoltaic energy triples the average expenditure on innovation of Spanish industry.
The sector generated 160,396 new jobs last year. During andA total of 7,489 MW was installed last yearespecially in ground installations, which have grown 26.5% year-on-year. The weight of the photovoltaic energy has grown by 40% in the energy mix and contributes an average of 13.6%.
The Spanish photovoltaic industry continues to consolidate its growth and its contribution to the innovation and prosperity of our country, as it is a fundamental pillar to achieve this goal decarbonization targets of the energy on which all countries focus their efforts.
Under the title “Forging the transformation to sustainability“, the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) today presented its annual report, prepared in collaboration with the University of Castilla La Mancha, which provides an in-depth analysis of the situation of the photovoltaic industry in Spain and in the world.
Solar energy: engine of employment and prosperity
According to the report The Spanish photovoltaic industry contributed 18,015 million euros to GDP last yearrepresenting 1.23% of the national total.
Likewise, the country stands out as an engine of prosperity thanks to its contribution to tax revenues, which increased by 6% to 2,143 million euros. Of this total, almost 1,490 million euros correspond to national taxes, 257.9 million to local taxes and around 395.2 million to social charges, data that underline the sector’s ability to face and adapt to territorial challenges contribute to the generation of equity.
The industry of solar energy In Spain, in 2023 it consolidated its position as a driver of employment and development for the territories. creating a total of 160,396 new jobs, including direct jobs (34,037), indirect (86,968) and induced (41,391), according to data from the University of Castilla La Mancha.
The path of expansion of the solar energy In Spain, this has also been reflected in investments in R&D, which amounted to more than 610 million euros in 2023, with an average budget of 3.6%, three times as much as the average expenditure on innovation in Spanish industry.
In the words of Rafael Benjumea, chairman of Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF): “This progress demonstrates not only the vitality of our sector, but also its ability to adapt and grow in a changing environment, as the sector works to overcome new challenges.”
Leadership position and spirit of innovation in the field of energy generation
The report provides an account of the industry’s leadership and spirit of innovation over the past year, in which the photovoltaic energy consolidated itself as the technology with the most installed power in Spain (including ground plants and own consumption), with 32,488 MW. It continues the global commitment to this technology since 2023; the photovoltaic It was once again the most installed energy source (renewable and non-renewable) in the world.
In 2023, a total of 7,489 MW was installed in Spain, 5.7% more than in 2022. With this installation data for 2023, Spain ranked second European photovoltaic marketbreaking the annual installation record.
Also notable is the increase in weight Spanish photovoltaic energy in the energy mix, which increased by 40% last year, with an average of 13.6%.
The sector that showed the greatest growth during the year was ground-based power plants, with 26.5% more installed capacity and closing at 5,783 MW. With 2,032 MW of new ground-based plant capacity, Castilla La Mancha led the development of photovoltaics last year.
Just in case own consumption2023 ended with 1,706 MW installed, representing 32% less growth than a year ago.
Photovoltaic energy: challenges and opportunities
By Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) They emphasize that solar energy offers Spain the opportunity to have competitive electrical energy that promotes the industrialization of our economy. Although most autonomous communities see solar energy as an opportunity for their territories, the association warns that this positive progress made in most areas contrasts with the barriers observed in some autonomous communities.
“While there is generally a positive alignment between central government and communities to promote decarbonisation, we are concerned about actions such as retroactive taxes in Aragon, the unjustified moratorium in La Rioja, barriers to storage in Asturias or restrictions on free enterprise in the Canary Islands,” says José Donoso, Managing Director of Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).
For the impulse of own consumption, Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) considers the support of the administrations essential and regulates the figure of the manager own consumptionby extending simplified processing and simplified compensation to all installations with an access capacity up to 450 kW or by promoting attractive tax reduction measures for those investing in own consumptionsuch as applying 0% VAT on the elements of the installation.
The sector, they emphasize, currently faces three major challenges. The first of these is social acceptance: that people understand that the projects are positive, that they are in the right place and that they do not pose any threat to security or to the development of the rural world, but quite the opposite. , a great opportunity.
The second major challenge points toward electrification: “decarbonizing our country’s electricity sector has been a great success, but we must make progress in replacing fossil fuels with electric energy,” Donoso added.
Storage would be the third major challenge for the sector: “Incorporate a storage solution for a photovoltaic installation It is something as fundamental as the panels themselves,” says Donoso. “Advances in storage are essential to extend those cheap solar hours beyond the hours of radiation, which will provide guarantees to consumers and reduce combined cycle consumption.” For this Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) requires a specific regulatory and reward framework.
“We are on track to achieve the objectives of the TRUNKas long as the sector and society remain aligned in their performance, looking for solutions to the challenges that currently arise,” concluded the General Manager of Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).