By Anders Lorenzen

The Spanish government has taken a significant step towards its clean energy goals, by having approved nearly 300 renewable energy projects, that would equate to more than 28 gigawatts (GW).

Combined, the projects will represent €17 billion worth of investments, which would include 239 solar PV plants, 43 wind farms and one hydropower plant.

In order to fulfil Spain’s clean energy targets, renewable energy would need to account for 81% of the country’s electricity mix by 2030, increased from today’s 50%. 

Green jobs creation

The initiative will be a huge catalyst for job creation. The Spanish government department responsible for climate action and renewable energy projects is the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). MITECO estimates that the initiative will create 300,000 jobs. They further explain that it is in line with the renewable energy growth path established by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), a government policy set out by MITECO in 2023.

The Spanish government estimates that solar power will account for the majority of new capacity. The 239 new projects planned would account for 24.87 GW, with the 39 wind-powered projects 2.68 GW, and the pumped-storage hydroelectric plant 573 megawatts (MW of new generating capacity.

Construction on the approved projects can begin straight away, and, to meet the target set out in the PNIEC, they must be completed within three years. The target of reaching 81% of renewable energy electricity capacity is split, with solar capacity at a minimum of 76 GW and wind power minimum of 62 GW.