In 2022, installing solar panels broke records for private homes and businesses in Spain. The surge in electricity prices, later tempered by the Iberian exception, pushed many households and companies toward this clean, affordable energy source.
More and more people are choosing to invest in their homes and see a noticeable discount on their electricity bill. A few photovoltaic panels placed on the roofs of detached houses or commercial buildings let individuals produce their own energy, reducing dependence on the electrical grid.
In Spain in 2022, self-consumption of solar energy grew by at least 108 percent versus the previous year, according to a report from the Spanish Photovoltaic Association UNEF. This growth enabled around 2,500 MW of self-consumption capacity. Overall, more than 298,000 homes and over 54,000 companies generated the equivalent of 1.8 percent of national electricity demand from rooftop solar, according to the annual Photovoltaic Self-Consumption report from the Association of Renewable Energy Companies.
Self-consumption of solar energy in Spain in 2022 rose by at least 108 percent from the prior year
The government aims to reach 9 GW of installed capacity for self-consumption within seven years as part of the 2030 Agenda.
The main requirement engineers consider when installing solar panels on a single family home is the structure of the building. The roof’s condition is crucial because it determines whether the installation can proceed. Mario Gómez, an engineer with the Ecooo cooperative that supports solar communities around Madrid, emphasizes that the roof check is essential to ensure feasibility.
People often believe installations must be placed where the sun’s rays hit directly. In reality, lower solar irradiance mainly affects performance, not feasibility. A slightly higher investment can still yield the same energy output as a site with better sun exposure.
Plates in apartment blocks
In a neighboring building, self-consumption can be achieved through a shared solar installation arranged via a distribution agreement. Neighbors must agree on how energy will be allocated and who contributes what.
They can distribute energy equally or according to individual consumption or produced energy. The installation of a building can even distribute energy to neighbors within a two-kilometer radius who want to participate. The challenge of collective self-consumption lies less in installation and more in the processing of paperwork by distributors.
When a project finishes and restarts, the consumer cannot benefit from self-consumption until the distributor processes the file. The approval can take eight months to a year, delaying the start of self-consumption beyond the intended period. Delays like this are mainly seen in collective schemes. For detached houses, energy use begins as soon as the system is installed.
Habits also affect
The system’s operation depends on daylight hours. Without a storage battery, energy must be consumed during production to maximize savings. Outside daylight, users rely on the grid where they are connected.
The advantage of solar self-consumption is clear: it cuts the electricity bill, but the benefit increases when energy is used during the sun’s peak hours. Being intentional about timing matters for those with a toaster, washing machine, or dishwasher. High energy tasks are best scheduled during sunny periods to lower overall costs.
In a single-family home, residents can monitor solar production and see when energy is generated and how much. For appliances with high energy use, such as washers and dryers, it helps to align usage with daylight hours. Cooking remains flexible, but daytime usage generally yields lower bills.
Solar energy users can save between 50 percent and 70 percent on their electricity bills
The profitability of solar panels and storage depends on the setup. For an isolated single-family house, the upfront cost for a family of three could range from 3,500 to 6,000 euros, with payback occurring after a few years.
Users can typically save about 50 to 70 percent on their bill if their daily routines adapt to sun hours.
Entire neighborhoods and towns are joining the solar wave
Many people are taking individual steps toward the energy transition and lower bills. Others opt for collective self-consumption across neighborhoods or entire towns.
In Elche, Alicante, the city with the second most photovoltaic installations in the Valencian Community, 22 families joined to install solar on homes across their urbanization. One good experience inspired neighbors to participate, says Carlos Costa, Energy Sales Director for Octopus Energy Spain.
The project was organized by Octopus Energy Spain. Contracting occurred in July, installations in August, and legalization took a week or two, allowing neighbors to start using solar energy in September. Thanks to this approach, residents might reach a zero-bill scenario through an energy wallet that stores surplus energy for later use. If months produce more energy than consumed, the credit can roll into the next month.
A notable project from 2017 in Cedillo (Cáceres) saw solar panels installed on public buildings and some lands by early 2022, enabling self-consumption for all residents. Iberdrola organized a day with neighbors to explain energy communities and the benefits of membership. The first registration round had 120 neighbors, ending on March 1, with a total of 305 participants, roughly two-thirds of Cedillo’s population.
The goal is for residents to live with self-consumption, says Estela Holgado, president of the Pueblo Solar Energy Association. This translates to potential savings of up to 50 percent on the consumed energy. Anyone who lives in the district can participate with proper registration.
There are more towns in Spain choosing solar plates as a path to lower bills and, in some cases, full energy independence.
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