Source: tr.im
Spain Installed 495 MWh Of Behind-The-Meter Storage In 2023, With 75% Of Installations In Residential Facilities. The Spanish Photovoltaic Union Calls For Regulatory Changes To Boost Storage Adoption For Renewable Energy Integration And Decarbonization.
In a significant development for Spain's renewable energy transition, the country installed 495 MWh of behind-the-meter storage in 2023, with 75% of these installations corresponding to residential facilities. The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) reported these figures, highlighting the need for regulatory changes to further boost storage adoption for renewable energy integration and decarbonization.
Why this matters: The growth of behind-the-meter storage is crucial for achieving net-zero targets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the world transitions to renewable energy sources, the development ofenergy storage technologies will play a vital role in ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply.
UNEF has conducted a study with its associated companies to obtain, for the second consecutive year, the first record in Spain on behind-the-meter storage. The aim is to size and propose a roadmap to address the needs of the solar energy sector, particularly in terms of renewable energies. José Donoso, general director of UNEF, emphasized the importance of storage systems, stating,"Storage systems allow us to make more efficient use of surpluses, that is, energy not self-consumed at the time it is generated, in order to be able to consume it at a later time. "He added that"in the coming years,batteries are goingto have the same importance as the solar panels themselves."
Despite the progress made, challenges remain in the implementation of behind-the-meter storage in Spain. The drop in electricity prices and the end of the Next Generation aid have reduced the profitability of these installations. To address this, UNEF considers it essential to continue working with companies and public institutions to develop an appropriate strategy that will provide the definitive boost that behind-the-meter storage needs.
Donoso proposed several regulatory changes to make these installations more competitive, including modifying the toll and charge scheme to increase the variable part of the bill and the price during hours of high network congestion, reducing or eliminating VAT for photovoltaic installation components such as panels, inverters, and batteries, and implementing aid through tax relief.
The growth ofclean technology manufacturing, including energy storage, is crucial for achieving net-zero targets and driving economic growth. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that clean technology manufacturing accounted for around 4% of global GDP growth and nearly 10% of global investment growth in 2023. Investment in clean technology manufacturing reached around USD 200 billion in 2023, growing by more than 70% relative to 2022.
The IEA's Energy Technology Perspectives Special Report focuses on five key clean energy technologies: solar PV, wind, batteries, electrolysers, and heat pumps. China, the U.S., Europe, and India are leading the way in clean technology manufacturing, with competition between regions expected to decide their relative fortunes. The IEA recommends that policy makers prepare their industrial strategies to capitalize on the benefits of clean technology manufacturing, including economic security, employment, and the resilience of clean energy transitions.
As part of its priority line of work in Storage and Green Hydrogen in 2024, UNEF is set to host the II International Summit on Storage and Hydrogen on May 22 and 23 in Madrid. The summit will feature international experts sharing their vision and experiences on the development and future of storage and hydrogen in Spain, further underscoring the country's commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions.
