The cornerstone on the path to sustainability is the energy transition. Committing to clean energy is crucial for reducing emissions, increasing resilience and moving closer to our carbon footprint targets. To achieve this, renewable energy is essential. And Spain’s geography offers enormous potential: the number of sunny days recorded in almost all regions provides the raw material for generating electricity in a clean way.

Broadly speaking, the solar photovoltaic sector has grown steadily in recent years. As confirmed by the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) ‘Renewables 2023’ report, global renewable electricity capacity is growing faster than it has in the previous three decades. As such, photovoltaics account for three-quarters of the growth recorded in 2023.

Spain is already one of the leading players in the solar energy market, with one of the highest rates of photovoltaic penetration in the world, according to the IEA’s ‘Snapshot 2023 of Global PV Markets’. It ranks fifth globally in terms of annual installed capacity and leads the way in solar energy growth in Europe.

Within Spain, Extremadura is the autonomous community leading the way in the shift towards photovoltaics. According to Statista’s calculations, in 2023 the region generated 9,167 gigawatt-hours from this energy source, followed by 8,511 in Castilla-La Mancha and 8,470 in Andalusia. Meanwhile, the 3,862 in Aragon and the 2,589 in Castile and León — in fourth and fifth place respectively — are a long way off the podium.

To meet sustainability targets, renewable energy capacity will need to triple by 2030

That said, Extremadura’s generation capacity could go even further and increase its contribution to the energy transition. For this reason, with an investment of over 150 million euros, Naturgy has just begun construction of its largest solar power station in Spain. Located in Campo de Arañuelo (Cáceres), it will cover 290 hectares and, when it becomes operational in 2026, will produce 515 GWh/year of energy, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 157,100 homes. Thus, by adding this project to others currently underway in Extremadura, Naturgy will be able to generate the equivalent of the electricity required by 400,000 homes.

As if that were not enough, the commitment to solar power goes hand in hand with reducing emissions, one of the most valuable benefits of solar energy. The new plant in Extremadura will help save around 250,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, according to the company’s calculations.

The IEA estimates that renewable electricity generation capacity will rise significantly thanks to wind and solar power, which by 2028 will double the generation capacity seen in 2022. The COP28 targets aim to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, thereby reducing emissions as closely as possible to sustainability targets.

For Naturgy, this represents a “genuine opportunity”, as the company is transforming its network to maintain its focus on decarbonisation and the circular economy. By 2023, 37 per cent of its installed capacity already came from renewables, but, as set out in its Sustainability Plan, its targets are aimed at achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Article from Ethic magazine. Read article