Spain is one of the European countries with the greatest capacity for capturing the sun’s energy given for its privileged geographic location and climate. Spain is ranked fourth in Europe in the utilization of solar energy, with about 6% of the total European market. Investment in solar thermal energy rose to Euro 86 million in 2005 and it is expected to increase to Euro 1,018 by 2010. The market in 2006 accounted for close to 175,000 m2 installed and has accumulated a total of 970,000 m2, with an annual growth of 34% in the last 8 years. The annual growth is expected to reach 45% per year until 4,200,000 m2 are expectedly to be installed by the year 2010.

Spain’s building regulations stipulate that thermal heating systems must be installed in all new buildings as well as for the refurbishment of old buildings. The Commitments to the Kyoto protocol is also expected to further increase industrial installation. In Spain absorption equipment is for the time being used exclusively at industrial scale. In the domestic sector, air conditioning through solar energy is still under development.

Spain at present has 12kW per capita, notably lower than the European average of 21kW per capita. However, legislations and initiatives including favorable tax treatment, the Technical Code for Building (CTE), and Renewable Energy Plan (PER) are expected to lead to rapid development in the near future.  Twelve percent of electricity consumption is apportioned to temperature control in buildings and dwellings. In recent years electricity consumption has grown about 3% annually on average.

Source: Interes