Spain 135
probability of occurrence. A major reason behind this may be the regulatory
changes de- incentivising and furthermore penalising RES with additional taxes
(e.g.: the aforementioned ‘sun tax’). Though not as important, promoting the
development and promotion of smart grids for control and monitoring of electricity consumption is more likely to happen. While the promotion of the electrification of the heating and cooling (H&C) sector is perceived to be
important, it features medium possibility of taking place according to
stakeholders.
Policies supported by technological advancements or change such as the
smart grid, electric vehicles, or industrial improvements in production processes
are more likely to happen, rather than policies with higher impact that require
regulatory and behavioural changes.
These policy mixes are to serve as an initial diagnostic where a great range of
stakeholders believe it is necessary to act in an attempt to meet ambitious
renewable energy transition targets.
Conclusions
In Spain, the tariff deficit increased over ten times within 13 years (from €0.25
billion in the year 2000 to €26 billion in 2013). However, regulatory changes in
the false hope of closing this tariff deficit have burdened the progress of renewables in the energy sector. Regulatory frameworks, including the Royal Decree on
self- consumption and retroactive subsidy cuts, have hindered RES production and
development in Spain and also put future investments in jeopardy, leading to
great uncertainties and risks. Moreover, the interplay of these factors has played
out through numerous procedural, recognition, distributional, and restorative
energy injustices that have been highlighted within the scope of this chapter.
Such past developments, presented as ‘lessons learned’ aimed at renewable energies, should, for example, be considered in the future of policy design in other
support schemes targeting energy efficiency improvement, development of highefficient co- generation (CHP), or district heating (DH) municipal systems.
The results of our stakeholder engagement and survey responses indicate that
three potential pathways for an energy transition await in Spain. Less likely is to
target more conservative policies aimed at reaching a 27% share of renewable
energy (RE) consumption – binding at the EU level. Second is to set ambitious
targets while assuming additional costs that may arise upon adopting such a lowcarbon transition process. However, the majority of stakeholders indicate the
energy transition pathway and ambitious renewable objectives as a great opportunity for Spain. The narratives of each stakeholder group, composed of academics, administration, NGOs, energy providers, the private sector, and others,
have underlined the importance of aspiring for decarbonisation policies. An
outlook towards particular policy instruments (covering the transport, building,
and industrial sectors), based on their impact and probability of implementation
in the hope of creating alternative spaces, have yielded potential pathways in
enacting energy transition strategies in Spain.
probability of occurrence. A major reason behind this may be the regulatory
changes de- incentivising and furthermore penalising RES with additional taxes
(e.g.: the aforementioned ‘sun tax’). Though not as important, promoting the
development and promotion of smart grids for control and monitoring of electricity consumption is more likely to happen. While the promotion of the electrification of the heating and cooling (H&C) sector is perceived to be
important, it features medium possibility of taking place according to
stakeholders.
Policies supported by technological advancements or change such as the
smart grid, electric vehicles, or industrial improvements in production processes
are more likely to happen, rather than policies with higher impact that require
regulatory and behavioural changes.
These policy mixes are to serve as an initial diagnostic where a great range of
stakeholders believe it is necessary to act in an attempt to meet ambitious
renewable energy transition targets.
Conclusions
In Spain, the tariff deficit increased over ten times within 13 years (from €0.25
billion in the year 2000 to €26 billion in 2013). However, regulatory changes in
the false hope of closing this tariff deficit have burdened the progress of renewables in the energy sector. Regulatory frameworks, including the Royal Decree on
self- consumption and retroactive subsidy cuts, have hindered RES production and
development in Spain and also put future investments in jeopardy, leading to
great uncertainties and risks. Moreover, the interplay of these factors has played
out through numerous procedural, recognition, distributional, and restorative
energy injustices that have been highlighted within the scope of this chapter.
Such past developments, presented as ‘lessons learned’ aimed at renewable energies, should, for example, be considered in the future of policy design in other
support schemes targeting energy efficiency improvement, development of highefficient co- generation (CHP), or district heating (DH) municipal systems.
The results of our stakeholder engagement and survey responses indicate that
three potential pathways for an energy transition await in Spain. Less likely is to
target more conservative policies aimed at reaching a 27% share of renewable
energy (RE) consumption – binding at the EU level. Second is to set ambitious
targets while assuming additional costs that may arise upon adopting such a lowcarbon transition process. However, the majority of stakeholders indicate the
energy transition pathway and ambitious renewable objectives as a great opportunity for Spain. The narratives of each stakeholder group, composed of academics, administration, NGOs, energy providers, the private sector, and others,
have underlined the importance of aspiring for decarbonisation policies. An
outlook towards particular policy instruments (covering the transport, building,
and industrial sectors), based on their impact and probability of implementation
in the hope of creating alternative spaces, have yielded potential pathways in
enacting energy transition strategies in Spain.