The goal represents a cap for the industry that, according to some developers, starts to find problems in banks to close financial schemes for new projects. The real issue is the lack of transparency regarding the new cap to be set by the government.
Currently, the Energy Secretary General (DGE) is studying where to put the new cap, and is doing so by discussing with the solar PV industry stakeholders. According to industry sources, the government is even considering to get rid of caps. However, some banks are being conservative and that is negatively affecting the industry, reason why the DGE should clarify the situation as soon as possible in order to avoid a slowdown in the impressive growth of this industry.
According to the Royal Decree 661 of 2007, which sets the fed-in tariff for renewable energy technology, solar PV will start a transition periof of one year once the installed capacity reaches 85% of the goal established by the Renewable Energy Plan, or 315 MW. During that year, after having hit the 315 MW mark, the new projects will be subject to the current feed-in tariff only if they get all the (final) paperwork in less than 12 months.
“We are already at the 85% mark”, said one developer, pointing out that the solar PV industry has grown by almost 500% in the last year. "And despite the transition year, we are hearing that some banks are denying financial schemes for some of the new projects”.
At the moment, the two biggest stakeholders of the industry in Spain, namely the Renewable Energy Producers Association (APPA) and the Solar PV Industry Association (ASIF), have not talked about the current situation. However, sources from ASIF have indeed expressed that the association "believes that the current uncertainty will end very soon".
For additional information:
www.asif.es
www.appa.es
