Spain's solar history: from 2008 boom to sun tax to revival

Spain has one of the most dramatic solar histories in the world. Global leader, sunk by its own government, and revived a decade later. Chronicle.

2007-2008: the boom

RD 661/2007 sets an extremely high guaranteed PV tariff (€450/MWh) for 25 years. Domestic and international investors go wild. Spain installs 2.7 GW in 2008, second worldwide after Germany. Speculative bubble.

2010-2013: the reversal

Economic crisis + tariff deficit make subsidies unsustainable. RD 14/2010 retroactively cuts tariffs. RD 1565/2010 and RD-ley 9/2013 cut more. Investors sue Spain at ICSID. Spain loses every case.

2015: the infamous 'sun tax'

RD 900/2015 bans surplus compensation and requires paying fees on self-consumed electricity (yes, on energy YOU produce and consume). Unique worldwide. Killed residential PV stone dead.

2018-2019: repeal and revival

Sánchez government repeals the sun tax via RDL 15/2018. RD 244/2019 sets current framework: free self-consumption, surplus compensation as bill discount. Residential PV takes off.

2020-2024: post-pandemic explosion

Power price spike + Next Generation EU + climate awareness. Residential installs grow from 5000 (2019) to 200000+ per year (2023). Spain returns to top 5 worldwide in annual installed GW.

2025-2026: energy communities and grid

RD 477/2024 enables energy communities within 2 km radius. Dynamic tariffs spread. Permitting saturation: queue at some utilities exceeds 1 year. Spain returns to 4 GW/year installed.

Future: now what?

Spain needs 80 GW PV by 2030 per PNIEC. On track for 30 GW. The question mark: saturated grid (no more exports fit), battery as solution, dynamic tariffs penalizing consumption when sun's down.

On current rules, read permits to install panels.