Spanish climate plan mandates 6GW-by-2030 boost for energy storage

February 25, 2019
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
The plan emerges two months before Spain elects a new government on 28 April 2019 (Credit: La Moncloa)

Upcoming snap elections in Spain will decide whether newly-proposed measures including a nation-wide 6GW boost to energy storage become a reality.

Draft climate change legislation green-lighted by Spanish ministers last Friday mandates a 3.5GW increase in pumped storage capacity by 2030.

This, according to the legislative package tabled by Pedro Sánchez’s socialist government, would be complemented by a further 2.5GW in energy storage batteries by the same year.

These batteries, the government says, should come with at least two hours’ worth of storage potential at peak load. They could be promoted through dedicated auctions, where the variable on offer would be the additional annual remuneration granted per capacity unit (MW or MWh, alternatively).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The energy storage proposals are part of a broader, sweeping clean energy roadmap which would have Spain reach fully renewable power generation and 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

However ambitious, the package remains a statement of intent at this stage as it will not be debated by Spanish MPs before the country holds snap elections of 28 April 2019. Only the government resulting from the polls can decide whether to press forward with the proposals, opening them to a parliamentary vote.

See here for the full story as initially published on our sister publication PV Tech.

Read Next

March 10, 2026
Global long-duration energy storage (LDES) deployment figures soared in 2025, but newer technologies risk being outcompeted by the incumbent, lithium-ion (Li-ion).
March 4, 2026
The NSW government has endorsed 16 projects worth a collective AU$34.4 billion through its newly established Investment Delivery Authority.
March 3, 2026
Allianz GI, Luxcara and Return have acquired BESS projects and portfolios in Germany, Finland and Spain; Low Carbon, OX2, Cero Generation and Revera have taken FIDs on projects in Poland, Finland and the UK; and NHOA Energy has received a 600MWh order in Italy. All in all, the projects total at least 3.7GWh of capacity.
Premium
February 27, 2026
We caught up with the CEO of owner-operator BW ESS, Erik Strømsø, about the firm’s next deployment plans, tolling trends, procurement and LDES, with its 11.5-hour Bannaby BESS in Australia further proof of lithium-ion’s long-duration potential.
February 24, 2026
Fluctuating power prices in Europe present opportunities for BESS developers, according to speakers at the 2026 Energy Storage Summit.