With only two days in advance of the date committed to Brussels, the Spanish Government presented this Wednesday the draft update of the National Energy and Climate Plan (Pniec), which accelerates the commitment to renewables with the aim that by 2030 generate 81% of the electricity. The plan contains the new objectives of the energy transition aligned, as explained by sources from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, with the challenges set by the European Union to adjust to the needs of the new geopolitical context derived from the war in Ukraine.
The document, which will be open for public consultation until September 4, reinforces Spain’s commitment to decarbonization objectives and updates the reduction of greenhouse gases to 32% in 2030, compared to the previous goal of 23%.
The 107 measures in the plan are focused on accelerating the commitment to renewable energies with the aim that by 2030 they will generate 81% of electricity and 48% of total energy consumption in the country. Of the 213 GW of total installed capacity per year contemplated in the plan, 166.2 GW will come from renewable technologies.
It is the lever with which Spain plans to advance in the objective of reducing its dependence on foreign energy and avoiding situations of tension such as the one unleashed after the cut in gas supply by Russia. In this sense, the plan establishes the goal of reaching 51% energy dependence by 2030, compared to the 73% it had before the pandemic.
To achieve this, 294,000 million euros will be invested, of which 85% will come from private investment, and 15% from public (11% corresponding to European funds).
The greatest boost is received by storage, necessary to stabilize the large renewable development, with an increase in objectives of more than 110%, since the objective of reaching 18,543 MW installed by 2030 is established, compared to 8,828 in the previous plan.
Another of the big differences compared to the previous plan is that the role of renewable gases is contemplated as a key element to promote decarbonization. Therefore, the biogas production challenges are practically doubled to 440 GW (compared to the previous 240 GW). The biomass goes from 1,009 to 1,409 and a green hydrogen production of up to 11 GW is established in 2030.
In the renewable field, the greatest boost, with growth of more than 100%, is received by thermoelectric solar energy, which is estimated at 4.8 GW. Wind and photovoltaic will continue to grow strongly to reach 62 GW installed, 47.2% more than the first, and photovoltaic 76.3 GW, 34.6% more with a special drive for self-consumption, which will be boosted up to the 19 GW.
Saving is another of the strengths of the new climate strategy. In this area, incentives for the use of the railway, the decarbonisation of aeronautical activity, rural development and the integration of renewable energies in the environment are introduced for the first time.
The housing rehabilitation objectives are also reinforced to promote thermal comfort in 1.38 million homes, compared to the 1.2 million established previously. It also increases the total target for electric vehicles, from the current 5 million to 5.5 million.
Of the 294,000 million investment contemplated, 40% will be allocated to renewable energies, 29% to savings and efficiency, 18% to energy networks and 12% to the electrification of the economy.
All this is estimated to translate into additional GDP growth of 2.5%, with job creation of between 430,000 and 522,00 new jobs between 2025 and 2030.
To update this energy transformation plan, a public consultation was already carried out, during which more than 2,000 allegations were received. This Wednesday another consultation procedure was opened until September 4.
