| Spain’s privileged geographic position and climate mean that it possibly has the greatest potential of all the countries in Europe for solar energy capitation. Spain receives more than 1500 kWh of energy per square metre, which offers plenty of potential for both thermal and electrical use.
It seems strange then that up until now, this valuable resource has been left untapped and energy requirements have had to be met with other forms of energy that are more harmful to the environment.
In recent years government grants have been made available to incentivise the development of solar energy use, but the rollout has been slow. |
This is about to change as Spain is in the process of laying down a framework designed to meet it’s targets for CO2 emissions in the Kyoto Protocol: In most regions of Spain, new legislation is either in effect or will come into effect during 2005-2006 making the installation of thermal solar energy systems mandatory in all new building, and in existing buildings that undergo major refurbishment.
Spain has been trailing Germany and Greece in energy solar energy, measured in terms of square metres of solar panels, for a number of years but this new legislation should lead a rapid closing of this gap and ultimately Spain could lead the solar energy industry in Europe.
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