For the rise in photovoltaic panels, the surge in high electricity prices, and no clear sign of a near normalization, more and more companies and individuals in the region are applying for solar self-consumption to control monthly bills that remain unsustainable for many businesses and families.
The numbers are striking. In the first six months of this year, the Ministry of Sustainable Economy recorded 5,174 new installations in the province, up from 4,709 in the previous year. Yet the trend continues to accelerate when the quarterly data is examined. In the first quarter, 2,067 installations were registered, and from April to June, 3,107 new projects were completed. In other words, more than a thousand new projects each month. (Source: Ministry of Sustainable Economy)
“This response comes naturally to the rise in electricity costs. It will soon be rare to see a factory roof or concrete slab without solar coverage,” says the president of the Valencian Renewable Energies Association, Avaesen, Marcos J. Lacruz. (Attribution: Avaesen)
At current prices, the payback period is shortening, with industrial facilities often recovering the investment in about one year, explains Louis Navarro, CEO of Solar Covering. “For many companies, survival depends on this choice. Even if some pay their electricity bills, those without proper licensing may face higher costs and reduced competitiveness,” he notes. For individuals, payback periods typically range from two to three years.
High energy costs paralyze production lines at 20% of textile companies
The rise in new installations stands out even more against a backdrop of industry challenges. Supply delays — largely from Asia — and, above all, a shortage of skilled workers, have slowed progress. In other words, the pace could have been even higher. Weather also played a role last spring, with more rainy days than usual in the province, hindering work because occupational safety rules require temporary suspension in such conditions.
loaded power
With this year’s enrollments, the province has already registered 11,861 solar self-consumption installations, totaling 109.7 megawatts of capacity. Put simply, they generate enough energy to power about 70,000 homes.
Of this total, 10,287 relate to facilities that are ready to be procured, while 1,574 involve industrial facilities and other types of organizations, including public buildings, garages, extraction pumps, or projects to raise water or power a locale. When considering power capacity, the figures reverse, since industrial plants are substantially larger.
In this context, both Avaesen’s president and Solar Covering’s CEO point out that large installations face challenges draining excess power to the grid and obtaining compensation for that energy, leading to perceived energy waste during weekends or off-peak hours. As a result, many firms are installing batteries to retain energy and enhance energy independence.
Municipal highlights show Elche leading with the highest operating volume in the Valencian Community at 905, followed by Alicante with 761, and Orihuela with 653. Notable figures also appear in Xabia with 548, and San Vicente del Raspeig with 511.
The ministry notes that promoting self-consumption is a fundamental pillar of advancing the energy transition toward a clean energy model. In response to the current situation, aggravated by the war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Ecological Transition has extendedIvace’s budget by 50 million to support self-consumption, in addition to the 40 million already allocated.
Jamming in the processing of solar plants
While self-consumption facilities are proliferating, Avaesen warns of growing delays in processing solar power plants with a maximum capacity of 50 megawatts under Generalitat’s jurisdiction, affecting small and medium-sized projects. “In the first term, only three megawatts were connected to the grid in the entire Valencian Community, compared with about 700 in Castilla-La Mancha,” warns Avaesen. The lack of grid connections for these projects is a key bottleneck.
Local business leaders also fear that large facilities relying on central government approvals will fill the space available for such infrastructure after the Consell limited projects to not exceed a certain share of municipal area.
Generalitat chief Ximo Puig acknowledged at a forum hosted by Europa Press that processing these files must improve and pointed to ongoing regional efforts. He cited, among other measures, a decree by the Consell that reduces processing time to 10 months and creates an emergency path for plants smaller than 10 hectares. Staff dedicated to processing these projects has been doubled to speed things up. The Generalitat reports 452 operating plants.