Andalusia is accelerating its energy transition with a clear objective: to lead the European renewable energy landscape. In just one year, the region has installed 2,700 MW of new energy and reached 14,500 MW of total capacity. The now updated plan sets a new goal: to reach 20,000 MW by the end of 2026 .

“That goal no longer seems ambitious, but achievable,” says Jorge Paradela Gutiérrez , Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines of Andalusia , in an exclusive interview with Strategic Energy Europe .

The region also increases its commitments to 2030: 48.5% of renewable energy contribution to gross final energy consumption (previously 42.5%) and 82% of renewable electricity generation (previously 75%).

Multi-sectoral commitment: solar energy, hydrogen and biogas

Solar energy is the natural pillar of this strategy. “A megawatt of solar energy in Andalusia yields twice as much as in Germany or the Netherlands,” Paradela points out . But the plan goes beyond the sun.

Green hydrogen is a strategic priority. The region is promoting a roadmap with 23 projects valued at €5.5 billion and another 80 in the initial phase.

“We want Andalusia to play a leading role in Europe’s key energy sectors,” the official says.

To facilitate these developments, the region has a project accelerator unit , a pioneer in Spain, which manages 130 initiatives—80% of which are in industry, energy, or mining—and acts as a one-stop shop for permits.

“Iconic hydrogen projects, such as MOEVE, Antigua Cepsa, and the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, are being processed through this accelerator unit,” Paradela emphasizes.

This work team, which has eight dedicated exclusively to people, has a high level of competitiveness and is designed to streamline processes.

In addition, the Board launched a €70 million aid program to consolidate the hydrogen value chain: electrolyzers, storage tanks, fuel cells, distribution systems, and hydrogen stations .

Andalusia is also promoting the offshore wind industry , and although Paradela believes the Spanish regulatory framework is progressing slowly, the region is already positioned in the global offshore generation chain.

Dragados Offshore will begin building HVDC platforms of up to 2.1 GW in the ports of Algeciras and Cádiz .

“These platforms will be used for floating substations that will receive power from offshore wind farms in Northern Europe and North America,” explains Paradela.

Procedures: requirement, agility and simplification

Andalusia has managed to combine speed and rigor in the processing of energy applications, positioning itself as one of the most efficient regions in Spain.

According to Jorge Paradela , “We process more projects than any other community and meet all the deadlines required by the government, even when more than 20% of the projects were rejected due to negative environmental impact.”

It notes that the region rejects 37% of projects because they do not meet technical or environmental requirements.

Even so, by 2023, 100% of the environmental impact statements were issued on time , allowing a growing portfolio of initiatives to remain on track without resorting to extensions.

This approach also extends to incentive management. According to data from the Andalusian Energy Agency, Andalusia has resolved more than 88,000 applications—86% of the total—equivalent to more than 90% of the budget requested for self-consumption, energy efficiency, and electric mobility aid programs.

Of these, 76,020 applications have been granted, with a total associated incentive of €513.7 million .

Paradela acknowledges that the region faced an “enormous bureaucratic burden with very complex technical requirements, inherited from a centralized design by the national government.”

However, he emphasizes that the Board responded with its own administrative transformation strategy : complete digitalization of processes, automation, document modeling, and 243 training workshops to reduce applicant errors .

One of the biggest advances has been the administrative simplification of self-consumption aid , where only three key documents are now required , compared to the initial 17.

“We convinced the government to relax the regulatory framework, and this not only reduced the burden but also accelerated payments to beneficiaries,” the official explains.

The region also implemented dynamic management in programs such as MOVES III , where it processed more than 26,000 applications and has already resolved 89% of them, with €145.5 million mobilized. Paradela points out that “we have not yet reached 100% because we reprogrammed funds after the closure, which allowed for the entry of 1,575 additional applications.”

The balance is not just quantitative. More than 60% of the cases that already warranted the investment are in the payment process or finalized , according to official data.

For Paradela, this validates a vision that transcends the technical: “We don’t want a single euro to be lost due to management errors. Our commitment is to ensure that aid reaches the country and translates into real projects in the region.”

Clean energy exports and industrial attraction

In addition to its growing renewable generation capacity, Andalusia is consolidating its role as an international supplier of hydrogen .

“We want to decarbonize our industry and also export hydrogen,” says Paradela, who highlights the partnership with European ports. The connection between Algeciras and Rotterdam is an example of international energy cooperation that positions the region as a bridge for clean energy in Europe.

European industry to Andalusia, which offers cheap, clean, and sustainable energy.

The Minister points out that “industry tends to locate itself close to its energy sources,” and that’s why Andalusia aims to be a key hub for German and Dutch industry , especially in the hydrogen and electric mobility sectors.

Impact on the territory and local job creation

The operating social license has become a fundamental pillar for Andalusia. Paradela mentions that each 50 MW plant generates €1.8 million in construction permits and €150,000 in annual taxes during its operation.

This translates into tangible benefits for small and medium-sized municipalities , which see renewable energy as a stable source of income and an opportunity for development.

In addition, the regional government implements local training and job creation initiatives in the maintenance and installation of renewable energy , which strengthens the communities’ commitment to clean energy projects.

Horizon 2025: “The energy hub of Southern Europe”

For this year, the Board plans to begin construction of the MØEVE project in the summer, consolidating European leadership in green hydrogen. It also seeks to strengthen the development of biogas , with 40 projects in the pipeline and an associated investment of €1.2 billion .

Offshore wind power, although still pending regulatory framework, is one of the areas in which Andalusia is well positioned. It accounts for more than 24% of the capacity processed, with 6 GW in its waters.

For now, the specific work the Board has highlighted is the partnership with Dragados Offshore , enabling the region to begin building HVDC platforms of up to 2.1 GW for global offshore wind farms.

Paradela emphasizes the structural opportunity: “We are translating this opportunity into investment, wealth, and employment. And we want to continue doing so.”

€400 million in industrial aid has been launched , including €51 million for the hydrogen value chain and €150 million for major key projects .

“We want to attract European industry that wants to be close to the energy source,” the councilor summarizes.

By 2030, Andalusia is committed to ensuring that 82% of its electricity generation will be renewable and that 48.5% of its total energy consumption will come from clean sources .

“We want to become the major energy hub of southern Europe,” Paradela concludes.