Following today’s approval of the RDL updating the electricity system, the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), representing the majority of Spain’s photovoltaic sector, has positively assessed the legislation. Director General José Donoso stated, “This will provide greater stability, robustness, and flexibility to the electricity system and allow renewable energies to play an important role. It will enhance electricity supply security, energy independence, and drive progress in combating climate change.” He added, “This will be crucial in completing the regulatory framework and adapting it to the current development of photovoltaic energy.”

These measures, coupled with the CNMC’s approval of updates to PO 7.4, will enable photovoltaic technology to participate in grid voltage control—a proposal long advocated by the sector.

Due to the geographical aspect of voltage control, photovoltaic energy, widely distributed across regions, is particularly suited to providing this grid service.

By participating in voltage control services, photovoltaics will also help reduce technical restriction costs.

Regarding energy storage measures, UNEF believes administrative processes will be streamlined, appropriately updating regulation that initially did not foresee this technology, thus granting it legal recognition.

The new regulation will accelerate energy storage development “rapidly and rationally, facilitating battery hybridisation with existing plants and contributing significantly to system stability in the short term.”

Electrification and Energy Independence UNEF highlights that the new regulations allow for more dynamic grid planning compared to the previous static five-year system, implementing measures aligned with current conditions.

The regulation improves self-consumption conditions by creating the collective self-consumption manager and expanding the radius for sharing surpluses up to 5 km.

The development of aggregators will also enable demand to align more closely with photovoltaic generation hours.

Significant strides towards electrification will allow the Spanish economy to fully harness the opportunities presented by solar photovoltaic energy. Donoso concluded, “This regulation will help protect us from international uncertainty in a turbulent context, strengthening energy supply security and our country’s energy independence, while making solid progress in decarbonisation and addressing the climate emergency.”

UNEF also positively values the updated milestone system adapted to current circumstances, enhancing security and predictability in the system.

The new RDL “advances the construction of a solid growth future for our country, bringing us closer to achieving PNIEC targets and consolidating foundations to seize photovoltaic energy opportunities for the Spanish economy,” added Donoso.

The sector calls upon all political parties to support this initiative during validation procedures, as it implements essential regulatory changes beneficial for our citizens and industry.