Spain aims to double Concentrated Solar Power capacity to 4.8 GW by 2025 and reach an installed capacity of 7.3 GW by 2030, according to a new 10 year energy plan set out by the government.

Under the plan, which will be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), Spain’s installed PV capacity would hike from 8.4 GW in 2020 to 23.4 GW in 2025. Wind energy capacity would rise from 28.0 GW in 2020 to 40.3 GW in 2025.

Looming elections in Spain could disrupt the plan. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap national election for April 28 after parliament voted down his latest budget bill.

The government’s plan would reduce coal-fired capacity from 10.5 GW in 2020 to 4.5 GW in 2025 and reach close to zero by 2030. Gas-fired generation capacity would hold steady at 27.1 GW while nuclear capacity would remain at 7.4 GW until 2025 and drop to 3.2 GW by 2030.

Spain direct normal irradiance (DNI) Source: Solargis

CSP experts predict falling costs could drive fresh development activity in Europe in the 2020’s and Spain represents the largest market potential.

Spain hosts 2.3 GW of CSP capacity, almost all of Europe’s installed CSP base. The plants were commissioned between 2008 and 2013, before activity was halted by the removal of state subsidies. Spanish companies continue to develop CSP technology and play a major role in international projects.

Strong solar resources, good availability of large flat land area and domestic CSP expertise all favor growth in Spain, experts say. Accelerated grid expansions and capacity market mechanisms are needed to support growth, they warn.

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