The Industry Minister is preparing a new renewable energy auction for the end of March. It plans to invite tenders for 3,000 technology neutral MW. This will try to avoid some of the mistakes made in the previous one at the start of 2016. Furthermore, it is another boost for these technologies to comply with the EU directive of fulfilling at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020.
In 2016, Spain’s Energy Ministry needs to revise the parameters related to the adjustment of green energy premiums included in the 2013 electricity sector reform. The proposal which Energy Minister Alvaro Nadal has sent to the National Competition Commission, pending amendments in order to have it ready before end-year, has not gone down well with green energy producers. They say that the proposal, as it is, limits the premiums and does not allow them to reach the stipulated reasonable rate of return.
The European Commission has recently presented its energy plan for the period 2021-2030. The tightening up on legal security for investors will especially benefit Spanish renewable installations.
The Industry Ministry is preparing new renewable energy auctions. It plans to invite tenders for between 3,000 and 4,000 technology neutral MW. That means auctions in which any kind of renewable energy can compete: wind, biomass, thermosolar, photovoltaic etc. This new boost for the renewables is happening to ensure Spain complies with the EU directive of fulfilling at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020.
MADRID | By Carlos Díaz Güell | Spain has become one of the countries facing more arbitration claims from investors due to the bonus cuts to renewable energy, only behind Venezuela, Argentina and Egypt. And yet the government feels quite calm about it, according to official sources. The last one to sue has been British fund InfraRed Capital Partners. It also litigates for the bonus cut to renewable energy companies,claiming that Spain hasn’t respected legal safety of investors, violating the Energy Charter and expropiating them of their rights.