The Spanish Photovoltaic Association released preliminary data on self-consumption photovoltaic installations for the second quarter on August 21, 2025, showing that the rate of new installations fell by 9% year-on-year, down from the average rate for the 2024 quarter, but better than the 17% decline in the first quarter.
Despite a 9% year-on-year decline in residential self-consumption system installations, there was an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase, reflecting rising demand for energy independence and cost savings, particularly in households with electric vehicles and heat pumps. Industrial sector installations grew by 4% year-on-year, approaching the 2024 quarterly average, with self-consumption systems helping businesses reduce energy costs, promote electrification, and avoid the ETS 2 emissions trading mechanism set to take effect in 2027. UNEF noted that commercial sector installations plummeted by 22% year-on-year, highlighting the issue of lagging regulatory updates.
Association Director General José Donoso emphasized that existing administrative barriers and the lack of incentives severely hinder deployment, preventing consumers from reaping benefits, obstructing national decarbonization goals, and increasing pressure on the industry's survival. If installation rates cannot be significantly increased, Spain will struggle to achieve its 2030 national energy and climate plan target of 19,000 megawatts—as of the end of 2024, over 8,200 megawatts of installations remain uncompleted.
The industry is calling for urgent measures, including advancing the content of the previously stalled “anti-blackout” royal decree, such as establishing self-use managers, expanding the scope of self-use to 5 kilometers, and simplifying the approval process for projects under 500 kilowatts.
UNEF also urges the Ministry of Energy and Climate (MITECO) to incorporate a surplus electricity sharing mechanism into the revised self-consumption regulations and to promote energy efficiency and electrification through measures such as increasing the variable component of electricity tariffs, tax incentives, and promoting energy storage systems (CAEs). Additionally, all autonomous regions must comply with RDL 18/2022, which exempts projects under 500 kilowatts from pre-construction administrative permits (AAP and AAC).
