Development of renewable energies in the autonomous communities of Spain

  • Castilla y León is the undisputed leader in renewable energy in Spain.
  • The autonomous communities are advancing at different rates in the adoption of renewables.
  • Aragon, Galicia and Andalusia also stand out for their renewable production.
  • The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are making slow but steady progress in this transition.
Tomàs Bigordà

5 minutes

Renewables in autonomous communities of Spain

After a few bad years due to the decree laws of the Popular Party, the Autonomous Communities are once again strongly committed to the development of renewable energies. Only the Auctions held in 2016 and 2017 have made it possible to install more than 8.700 megawatts of new power throughout the country.

These new facilities bring with them investments exceeding 8.250 million euros and are expected to generate around 90.000 jobs during the installation phase. In addition, the renewable sector continues to consolidate itself in Spain as a key pillar in the economy and in the transition towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy model.

Uneven development of renewable energies in different autonomous communities

Despite renewed interest in renewable energy, its development has been very slow. unequal in the different Autonomous Communities. This is confirmed by the Study of the Macroeconomic Impact of Renewable Energies in Spain, published by the Association of Renewable Energy Companies (APPA). The differences between the autonomous communities are notable and, although some of them have assumed leadership, others have very low adoption rates.

For instance, Castilla y Leon stands out as a leader in the sector, with 6.474 megawatts installed, a large part of which is thanks to wind energy. Other communities, such as Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha and Galicia, also play an important role in terms of installed capacity.

In terms of comparison, the autonomous regions that stand out the most in terms of boosting renewables in 2023 are Castilla y León, Extremadura, Aragón, Andalucía and Galicia, according to recent data. These five regions account for more than 75% of Spain's renewable generation capacity.

Ranking of installed power by autonomous communities (2016)

CCAA

Installed power of renewable technologies 2016 (MW)

Castilla y Leon

6.474

Andalucía

5.635

Castilla la Mancha

5.258

Galicia

3.957

Source: Association of Renewable Energy Companies

Renewable energy advances in the Autonomous Communities

Let's see below how progress has been made in different regions of Spain:

Aragon

The momentum in Aragon has been evident. The Government of Aragon declared the investment in 48 wind projects totalling 1.667,9 MW and 12 photovoltaic plants with a capacity of 549,02 MW to be of regional interest. In addition, from 2016 to 2023, Aragon has experienced a significant increase in its renewable capacity, reaching 75,3% of renewable production in 2023, with wind energy standing out.

china renewable energy

Castilla y Leon

Castilla y León, in addition to being a leader in renewable energy in Spain, has reached a renewable integration of 89% in 2022. The Junta continues to subsidize improvements and the implementation of more efficient energy consumption technologies, following the Energy Efficiency Strategy 2016-2020 and other more recent programs that seek to adapt the region to the growing demand for clean energy. In terms of renewable generation, this region also continues to be the largest producer of wind energy.

Galicia

Galicia focuses its efforts mainly on biomass, due to its rainy climate that limits other energies such as solar. Thanks to continuous support from the Xunta, more than 4.000 biomass boilers have been installed in homes, contributing to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Wind energy also has a notable presence in the region, with sustained growth that reached 61,9% of renewable generation in 2023.

Balearics

Although the development of renewable energy in the Balearic Islands has been slower compared to other communities, there is growing interest in photovoltaic energy. Projects have been processed that represent an increase of 25% of installed renewable power, although there is still much to do to reach optimal levels. Currently, the Balearic Islands only have 7% renewable energy in their energy mix, the lowest figure in Spain, but there are important projects underway that aim to increase this percentage in the coming years.

Canary Islands

Thanks to funding from the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN), more than 90 projects have been approved to improve energy management. These projects include the installation of renewable technologies and the promotion of sustainable mobility. However, the installed capacity of renewable energy in the Canary Islands is still modest, representing just 21,5% of the energy mix in 2023. Despite favourable natural conditions, progress in renewable energy has been slower due in part to the complexity of the islands.

Renewables in autonomous communities in Spain

The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, maintains that it is crucial to promote projects that allow reducing costs and moving towards a more sustainable model in the islands. The Canary Islands have ideal conditions for developing renewable energy, and with the projects underway, a significant increase is expected in the coming decades.

As renewables continue to expand across Spain, communities that are already leading this energy shift have the opportunity to attract investment and strengthen their economies with sustainable industrial projects. In terms of generation and installed capacity, growth is undeniable, placing Spain as one of the European leaders in this energy transition.