After years of hiatus in Spain, the renewable energy sector begins a new life. After three mega auctions that the Government has carried out since January 2016 have encouraged an investment which can exceed 7.500 million euros until 2020 to install a total of 8.935 MW (4.607 MW of wind, 4.110 MW of photovoltaic and 218 MW of biomass).
This capacity is distributed among a total of 21 companies from the solar sector, 40 companies dedicated to wind and 14 companies focused on biogas, biomass and waste.
According to calculations made by the renewable energy employer Appa, the projects, if carried out in their entirety, would generate more than 27.900 new direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase - until December 2019.
In addition they would raise to more than 18.800, the jobs permanent in photovoltaic technology for the next twenty years.
The Spanish executive's commitment to renewables comes after a particularly tough year in rates. Gas imports in the first quarter of 2017 in the European Union amounted to some 20.000 million, about 35% more than the equivalent period of 2016. Both the imported volume (1.090 TWh) and the average price (18,6 euros / MWh) they were well above the figures registered in 2016. For this reason, countries have begun to move quickly and, with them, the large electricity companies that in the past have more tepidly bet on renewables.
Gas Natural, was one of the corporations that most harshly criticized the previous system of primas whose total cost they came to estimate at 150.000 million. At present, the company considers that they are already mature technologies and with the need to adjust its production mix due to the intermittent shutdown of gas plants, it is committed to increasing its presence in this business.
His first big leap was the acquisition of Gecalsa, but has studied other options such as the purchase of Gestamp, Acciona's renewables package and even Endesa and EDP.
Endesa has followed a similar path. Through its subsidiary Enel Green Power Spain, the company was slow to develop green energy and is now launching even above the forecasts of its business plan. In total, the utility will invest around 870 million for the 879 MW it has achieved (540 MW from wind and 339 MW from photovoltaic). The company is also attentive to the sale process of renovalia and Eolia and in the investment plans foreseen for the next few years it has exceeded the level of 5.000 million in Spain.
The largest investment among the new owners of renewables is that which Forestalia has to make. The Aragonese group has already commissioned Acciona to build its first biomass plant and it is advancing with the second, at the same time it has already obtained some of the authorizations from the Government of Aragon for its wind farms that it will develop largely with the North American giant General Electric, which thus wants to guarantee market share.
The General Council of Aragon is being one of the most agile when it comes to granting permits. In fact, Cobra -a subsidiary of ACS- has also just get the permits for a large photovoltaic plant in which it plans to invest 330 million euros with a power of 549 MW. In other words, the first step of the 1.550 MW it obtained in the auction.
Other renewable technologies
If we look at other technologies such as biomass and biogas, companies such as Avanzalia Energía stand out. This company was born in 2006 under the name of Global Solar Market, by foreseeing the promulgation of the electricity sector liberalization law and has now achieved 2,9 MW.
OMS Sacede was born in 1979. It is a team specialized in water treatment, from where they have evolved into other sectors related to water the environment, such as waste treatment and energy recovery and optimization.
Energía Sur de Europa was created in 2.000 with its headquarters in Seville. Originally, it was a joint venture with an English company, which arrived in Spain importing generation technology biogas landfill. Over the years, foreign participation was diluted, leaving the company only with Spanish participation.
Biogastur built a plant of biogas with which to treat the slurry from the Central Lechera Asturiana cows.
Capital Energy was born in 2002 with the aim of developing wind farms in a generalized way and through Alfanar they will develop 720 MW of wind energy or Greenalia, which was listed yesterday on the MAB with a valuation of 43 million and which has achieved 133 MW of wind energy.
Logistical problems
However, companies are concerned about the ability to put this high power up and running in such a short period of time. The need to cranes, escorts or logistical capacity will be very high. According to the calculations of the consultancy Agere, with a remuneration similar to the current one, the wind energy auctioned in May would come out at a price of 41 euros / MWh, that of July at 30 euros / MWh and the photovoltaic at 34 euros / MWh.
If, as everything seems to indicate, the Government adjusts the compensation to about 5%, these prices will be reduced and the wind energy auctioned in May will receive 38 euros / MWh, that of July a total of 29 euros / MWh and the photovoltaic around 32 euros / MWh.