Spain

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Introduction

Renewable energies sources (RES) consumption reached 15.9% for final energy consumption in Spain in 2014. The final objective for 2020 is 20%.

The penetration of RES for heating and cooling uses is still slow in Spain mainly due to economic crisis. However, some technologies have experienced an increase in the last years and the perspectives in the short term are to intensify the use of thermal RES for heating and cooling.

Heating and Cooling in figures

The share of fuels in the Spanish final energy consumption is shown in the following table (2013):

share of fuels in the Spanish final energy consumption

 

The current use of RES for heating and cooling is limited. The RES share in the final energy use is 6,6% (in 2013). The main sources of RES heat are: wood stoves in houses, large biomass boilers, willow geothermal heat pumps, air to air heat pumps and solar thermal installations. The use of RES for cooling is limited to heat pumps.

The use of RES in the residential and the industrial sectors is quite relevant; the following table shows the contribution of RES to final energy consumption.

contribution of RES to final energy consumption (ES)

 

Biomass was the main technology contributing to this objective (4.1%). Despite a slight reduction of the contribution in 2014, the tendency in the last years is positive for this technology. The biomass thermal sector (including biogas for thermal uses) accounted for 3,340 ktep in 2014, mainly for residential uses.

For solar thermal energy the main use is residential sector. In the last years, the installation of this technology has suffered a sharp drop due to the economic crisis and the reduction of new buildings. In 2014, there were 3,343,000m2 installed in Spain (255,090m2 more than in 2013). In terms of final energy, this technology contrib

uted in 0.3% to the total account.

The contribution of geothermal energy to thermal uses is very low. In 2014 it accounted for 19.7 ktep (0.02% of the total final energy consumption). In the last years the development of this sector in Spain has risen.

Share of renewable vs non renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector

Final energy consumption broken down by sector

Support Schemes and  Best practices

The Spanish Government approved in several measures intended to encourage the energy efficiency of buildings, which to some extent represent supporting the installation of thermal renewables in the residential sector.

During 2009 and 2010 (ongoing) under the 2005-2010 Renewable Energy Plan, the funding programmes, called BIOMCASA, GEOTCASA, SOLCASA and GIT, started. The programmes BIOMCASA, GEOTCASA and SOLCASA finance RHC facilities in buildings, operated by Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). During 2012 and 2013 new calls of the programs have been re- edited. The GIT program is addressed to incorporate RES in industrial processes.

In October 2013 was launched the PAREER Programme – Energy Refurbishment in the Residential Sector. Within this program, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism through IDAE, provides financing to the owners of residential buildings and hotels and also to ESCOs providing heating and cooling to the final users.

In May 2015 Spanish authorities have launched a new subsidy scheme for energy efficiency measures, called PAREER CRECE. The scheme supports RES technologies, giving it direct monetary support of the system costs. In addition to the subsidy scheme, there is a soft loan at Euribor rate without additional charges in order to reach a 90% of the total amount. There are four eligible types of measures:

  • Improving a building’s thermal insulation: 30 % grant – 60% soft loan
  • Improving energy efficiency of heating and lighting system (including solar thermal): 20 % grant – 70% soft loan
  • Replacing conventional with biomass boiler: 25 % grant – 65% soft loan
  • Replacing conventional boiler with geothermal system: 30 % grant – 60% soft loan

About Us

IDAE (Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy) was established in 1984 as a state-owned business entity that reports to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism through the State Secretary for Energy. IDAE is the responsible authority within the Ministry for the Renewable Energy Plans (the present one 2011-2020) and for the Energy Saving and Efficiency Strategy 2011-2020, and is in charge of developing and submitting to the Secretariat General for Energy of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism the follow-up reports and revision and proposals of all the necessary actions and applicable technical solutions during the Plan’s temporary limit to achieve its targets.

IDAE carries out the FROnT activities in Spain. Our main contributions are:

  • To identify at national level the strategic policy priorities that can contribute to efficiently and cost-effectively implementing the NREAP. It implies an exhaustive study of the key decision factors for end-users, market conditions, technological potential and regulatory framework of the country.
  • To facilitate the setting-up of improved and sustainable RHC integrated support schemes, stressing the value of the energy provided.
  • To support a better insight of the value of the energy supplied by RHC systems, promoting transparency and clarity for end-users and other stakeholders.

 

Contact person:

Margarita Ortega (Solar Department)

e-mail address: mortega@idae.es

Phone: 0034 91 456 5024