Spain is trying to create more energy batteries to store surplus renewable energy, something key for the future to achieve energy independence and also to avoid episodes like the April blackout. Although several communities were competing for aid, there is a clear winner: Andalusia.
The ERDF are EU funds to encourage energy transformation and in Spain there were several communities in dispute. After the modifications, for state energy storage there was 818 million in aid to be distributed according to the final resolution. Although Andalusia has suffered a cut of 20 million compared to the previous plan, it is still a good pinch considering that almost half of the funds go there.
Why is it important. The primary objective of the ERDF program is to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union, reducing disparities between regions through investments that boost growth, employment, innovation, the green and digital transition, and territorial cooperation, supporting less developed regions and transforming industries in decline. And this is demonstrated with this definitive roadmap.
Why Andalusia. Taking into account economic reasons, it is worth remembering that the IDAE designed the call from the beginning, distributing the budget into regional pools and from the beginning Andalusia received the highest allocation, even after the downward adjustment of the final resolution.
- Under EU criteria, Andalusia is classified as a “less developed region”a designation intended for those whose GDP per capita is less than 7% of the EU average. In short: it has absolute priority for the distribution of funds.
- The co-financing rate is higher precisely because of the previous classification taking into account the regulatory bases, which allows us to reach 85% compared to other areas such as Madrid or Catalonia. When faced with similar projects, those present in a less developed region receive more subsidies.
But there are also strategic reasons derived from the state’s renewable energy infrastructure and its operation. Andalusia is going to become Spain’s battery: with this aid it will not only lead the generation of clean energy, but will also have the technologies to manage it.
- Andalusia concentrates some of the projects with the greatest storage capacity of the entire call, such as those from Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure or the Rolwind battery system (ST Palmosilla) one of the largest in the state.
- Andalusia is the state leader in installed power in photovoltaic solar energy and as points out the PNIECregions with very high variable renewable generation urgently need storage to avoid spills and thus guarantee electrical stability.
In figures. The final resolution of the plan is lower than the initial proposal, with a total budget of 818 million in non-refundable public aid allocated to 126 projects (previously there were 133), 2.2 GW of power and a total capacity of 9.4 GWh. All this with September 30, 2029 as the deadline.
- Three operators concentrate more than 50% of the awarded capacity: Iberdrola with 2,333.7 MWh and 12 projects, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure with more than 1,500 MWh and eight projects and Rolwind Renovables with 1,225 MWh and 2 large-scale projects. Behind, other relevant actors such as Naturgy, BenBros or Ecoener.
- Andalusia accounts for 43% of the aid, with 354.5 million euros. It is the area with the most projects and accumulated volume. Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha follow, with 97.2 and 98 million euros respectively. The only Autonomous Community whose budget increases is Extremadura, going from 73 to 91 million euros.
In detail. In the list of awarded projects, those hybridized with renewables (the majority, photovoltaic) prevail, followed by independent batteries, thermal storage and pumped hydroelectricity. Spain has achieved very competitive prices compared to other European tenders. Without going any further, according to Strategic Energy The average price for independent storage systems (stand-alone) was €64,933/MWh/year, below markets such as Italy.
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