The government is moving to expand the maximum distance allowed for collective self-consumption of solar energy from 500 meters. This change is being integrated into an emergency action plan developed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition to mitigate the effects of the war in Ukraine, as stated during the Solar Forum, a gathering hosted by the photovoltaic industry employers. The intent is to make it easier for communities to share and use solar-generated electricity across broader areas, aligning policy with practical needs on the ground.
Under the current rule, the distance between where solar panels are installed and where the energy is consumed limits the scale at which solar sharing can occur. The general manager of Unef notes that extending this distance would enable a neighborhood, town, urbanization project, or industrial zone to generate electricity locally. While the government has not yet disclosed the exact scope of the expansion, preliminary figures suggest a staged approach, with at least a two-kilometer limit at low voltage and five kilometers at high voltage being discussed as a potential benchmark for harmonization with other European countries. Spain seeks to align its rules with neighboring nations such as France, Germany, and Portugal, where different distance thresholds apply depending on voltage levels.
This proposal has long been advocated by ERC representatives, particularly by the spokesperson on the Environmental Transformation Commission, Joan Capdevila. He has consistently argued that the 500-meter limit significantly hinders the formation of energy communities. As Donoso explained in a recent interview, extending the boundary would allow larger groups to coalesce around shared solar resources, whether in central districts of Madrid or Barcelona, or in smaller towns that often struggle to create scalable energy solutions. The shift would enable collective action that brings together multiple consumers and optimizes the use of available roof space and land for solar generation.
Capdevila’s focus extends beyond major metropolitan areas. He has highlighted scenarios in smaller municipalities, such as central Catalan towns that could host slurry treatment facilities on normal-sized industrial sites, with publicly owned buildings like town halls, sports centers, or schools offering additional usable surfaces. When these surfaces are combined, they can form a single energy community that enhances consumption optimization. The essence of the argument is democratization: expanding the allowed distance increases the likelihood of forming cohesive groups and fosters public-private partnerships and collaborations between private parties to realize shared energy goals.
Officials emphasize that any expansion must be approached with caution to maintain system reliability and resilience. The idea is to preserve the reliability of electricity supply while enabling more localized generation through energy communities and private self-consumption. The policy discussion centers on balancing the benefits of broader energy sharing with the integrity of the grid and the fair distribution of renewable resources. Questions about why the distance limitation exists in the first place are addressed in ongoing discussions at the Congress of Deputies, where officials stress the need to monitor growth and safeguard network resilience. The overarching goal is to empower communities to leverage renewable resources more effectively without compromising safety or stability.