Spanish energy regulator stance on ‘autoconsumo’ backed by PV industry body

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Proposed reforms to renewable energy laws by the Spanish government have been criticised by the Spanish National Energy Commission (CNE).

Arguments offered by CNE in a report include the lack of explanation given for the reforms and the fact that the nature of the reforms is unprecedented in the European Union. The ‘autoconsumo’ law, as it has been dubbed, has already proved controversial and attracted protest from various groups.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

According to the Spanish National Association of Renewable Energy Producers and Investors (ANPIER) endorsing the report, CNE has effectively spoken up in support of small-scale PV producers.

The proposed reforms would affect small-scale generators of PV energy, charging them high fees for grid use which would effectively make self-consumption more expensive than other forms of energy.

CNE criticised the ministry for issuing only a brief report justifying the reforms without providing clear explanation of methodology or the parameters of data collected.

The CNE report also argued that the reforms go against stated economic and environmental aims of renewable energy policy that are in place to externalise costs to the industry of increasing renewable energy production that would otherwise make renewable energy generation prohibitively expensive.

ANPIER president Miguel Angel Martinez-Aroca argued that in backing the reforms, the government is acting “against all parliamentary framework, against the sector regulator, against the sector and against consumers”.

ANPIER further criticised the Spanish energy minister Jose Manuel Soria for publicly stating that energy ministry would not take criticism by CNE into account. Soria’s government was also accused of going against principles he had previously defended while his party were in opposition.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA