Spain's Grid Investment Upgrades Are Called For, With 83.4% Of Nodes Saturated, Hindering The Integration Of Renewable Energy

 

Spain's grid investment upgrades are called for, with 83.4% of nodes saturated, hindering the integration of renewable energy.

 

The Spanish Green Interconnection Alliance is calling for increased grid investment to connect electricity demand, following the release of a capacity map showing a lack of grid access for renewable energy sources. Specifically, the alliance, comprised of leading companies and organizations in the industrial, digital, energy, and social sectors, criticized the data from the distribution network capacity maps released by distribution companies, arguing that this reaffirms the lack of an adequate regulatory response to developing network infrastructure to meet Spain's industrial, digital, and technological needs. Capacity maps indicate the availability of new power to the grid and provide guidance to companies and investors planning new projects requiring grid connection. According to the Electricity Companies Association (Aelec), 83.4% of distribution network nodes are saturated.

 

In this regard, the alliance commented that it had already warned during the objection process last August that the National Market and Competition Commission's (CNMC) proposal for a distribution compensation method and its rates for 2026-2031 would prevent network development at the pace and volume currently required by industry. Entity spokesperson Alejandro Labanda assured that Spain has a unique opportunity with renewable energy to safeguard strategic autonomy, strengthen its economic model, enhance competitiveness, and promote reindustrialization. Labanda said demand-siders waited months for the maps to plan their strategies, but it reaffirmed what the industry has expected for months: the grid has no available capacity to connect new projects.