In 2023, Spain achieved a historic low in its energy dependency, reducing it to 68.3%. This milestone, driven by the growth of renewable energy, is critical to addressing current challenges and ensuring the country’s economic and political stability.

José María González Moya, General Director of APPA Renovables, highlights that “external energy dependency represents a crucial challenge for the economy and political stability in Europe and Spain.”

The ability to generate energy from domestic resources such as solar, wind, and biomass reduces supply risks and helps moderate energy costs, providing greater resilience to geopolitical crises.

According to the Study on the Macroeconomic Impact of Renewable Energy in Spain 2023, renewables not only avoided fossil fuel imports worth €15.622 billion but also contributed to €9.5 billion in savings for the electrical system.

In an interview with Energía Estratégica España, González Moya emphasized the importance of these figures, stating that “renewables offer a decentralized solution that strengthens the resilience of the system.” This decentralization, combined with storage and self-consumption technologies, will increase the country’s ability to respond to future energy crises.

Key Technologies and New Developments in Storage and Distributed Generation

To consolidate these advancements, APPA Renovables underscores the need to continue developing storage infrastructure and promoting self-consumption.

The APPA study highlights that, by the end of 2023, Spain had reached 8 GW in self-consumption capacity—a technology that generates electricity close to consumption points, minimizing losses and improving efficiency.

Its director points out that “distributed generation and self-consumption are essential for a resilient and secure grid, but simplifying administrative procedures is crucial to fully leverage this generation.”

Additionally, energy communities emerge as an opportunity to involve citizens in the energy transition. The director states that “energy communities and shared self-consumption reduce losses and encourage greater public participation in renewable energy use and generation.”

Imbalances and Challenges in Spain’s Renewable Sector

Despite progress, González Moya identifies two major challenges for the renewable sector: the imbalance between supply and demand and the dominance of photovoltaic energy in the energy mix.

According to the Macro Study 2023, the PNIEC (National Energy and Climate Plan) sets a 34% increase in electricity demand by 2030—an ambitious goal. However, the APPA General Director notes that it is “essential for this increase to coexist with self-consumption and energy efficiency to ensure effective, purposeful demand growth.”

González Moya explains that the lack of balance among renewable technologies could affect the profitability of photovoltaic projects. He warns that reaching 76 GW of installed capacity without a corresponding increase in demand could become problematic.

On the other hand, the bureaucratic burden in project approval processes represents a significant barrier.

The director remarks that “the sector faces excessive bureaucratization,” a situation that not only slows the progress of self-consumption projects but also prevents full utilization of the renewable generation currently wasted due to administrative hurdles.

The Role of Green Hydrogen and Biofuels in Energy Independence

Technological diversification is another pillar that APPA considers vital for achieving energy independence.

According to González Moya, green hydrogen has great potential in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as high-temperature industries and maritime transport.

This renewable gas allows the decarbonization of industrial and thermal processes, complementing electrification and offering an additional solution to reduce fossil fuel dependency.

“There is a European strategy to promote renewable hydrogen production and usage, which will eventually reduce costs and make it viable in the medium term, but it won’t happen soon,” he clarifies.

He adds that with the expansion of electrolyzer projects and infrastructure development, renewable hydrogen “will be a key pillar in our transition to energy independence. However, its breakthrough is unlikely within this decade.”

Economic Savings and Development Driven by Renewables

Beyond energy security benefits, the transition to a renewable energy matrix brings significant economic advantages.

According to the study, in 2023, renewables contributed €16.495 billion to the national GDP, equivalent to 1.13% of the total. Additionally, the sector generated 127,576 jobs, acting as a key driver in revitalizing rural areas and creating opportunities in related industries.

González Moya affirms that “the renewable sector has a direct impact on employment and the reindustrialization of rural areas by promoting activities linked to agriculture and forest management.”

With the goal of reducing energy dependency to 50% by 2030, the APPA director calls on all stakeholders: “Energy independence is not just an economic issue but an opportunity to improve our quality of life. Only with the commitment of regulators, companies, and citizens can we achieve our goals.”

Energy independence is imperative in today’s context, where geopolitical conflicts and fossil fuel price fluctuations highlight the importance of a diversified and local energy matrix.

Renewable energy offers the most viable path to achieving this goal. However, as González Moya states, “the journey toward energy independence requires both continuous technological development and infrastructure that fosters public participation.” With achieved savings and reduced energy dependency, Spain moves toward sustainable energy security and a more resilient economic model.

APPA’s Role in Addressing Change Challenges

Since its founding in 1987, APPA Renovables has played a key role in advocating for and promoting the renewable sector in Spain, with an inclusive approach that considers all technologies complementary.

This unique character allows the association to focus on the comprehensive advancement of renewable energy without favoring a particular technology.

José María González Moya emphasizes that the organization aims to “continue being the benchmark we’ve been for the past 37 years,” remaining an effective interlocutor between the Government, European institutions, companies, and civil society.

APPA Renovables positions itself as a meeting point driving initiatives and regulating the energy transition, seeking an environment that allows Spain to move toward a sustainable and independent model free from reliance on third-party countries.