PHOTOVOLTAIC SELF-CONSUMPTION IN SPAIN

Exploring the Growth, Capacity, and Advantages of Self-Consumption in Spain

Photovoltaic self-consumption in Spain is gaining momentum among both households and businesses. More and more people are choosing to generate their own power using sunlight and enjoying its many benefits.

The reasons for choosing self-consumption vary: from wanting to reduce electricity bills to a commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. This alternative not only saves money but also helps reduce CO₂ emissions.

Solar panels on several homes’ rooftops

Based on using energy generated by photovoltaic systems, this energy model also allows users to put any surplus energy towards their electricity bills or store it in batteries for later use. Photovoltaic self-consumption has become a common feature in our communities, with solar panels increasingly seen on the rooftops of homes and buildings.

Growth of Self-Consumption in Spain

More than 483,000 households and over 75,000 companies in Spain already have self-consumption systems according to the 2024 Annual Report on Photovoltaic Self-Consumption by Appa Renovables. Photovoltaic self-consumption already covers about 3.7% of national electricity demand and could hit 4.5% if barriers to using industrial surplus energy were removed.

Thanks to improved technology, fewer tax barriers, and the regulation of self-consumption conditions (with Spanish Royal Decree 244/2019), photovoltaic self-consumption has seen sustained growth in recent years. Technological progress and simplified paperwork make it easier for both households and businesses to adopt it, including options for shared self-consumption and to offset surplus energy.

Requirements to Install Solar Panels in Spain

Installing solar panels on a home or at a business is easier than it might seem and at Iberdrola España we help make it possible. First, daily consumption, habits, and the characteristics of the property—such as location, roof orientation, and surface area—must be taken into consideration.

There are also a series of technical and administrative requirements. You must:

Obtain the proper building license or submit a site management statement to the local municipality
Carry out the work to installation the solar panels
Once installed, enter the system into the regional registry and request enrolment as a consumer
Request a self-consumption contract from your electricity retailer

If you live in an apartment building and want to install solar panels in common areas, you’ll need approval from at least half of the property owners. For individual installations in private homes, support from one-third of ownership shares is sufficient. An agreement must also be signed detailing each resident's share of the installation.

Currently, we lead self-consumption in Spain with over 200,000 customers connected to our grid. We offer an end-to-end solution, from the initial study to managing activation of self-consumption. Iberdrola España handles it all, end to end.

Advantages of Self-Consumption

There are many benefits to photovoltaic self-consumption:

Carbon footprint reduction

Producing clean energy fights climate change.

Direct savings on electricity bills

Generating your own power reduces your electricity consumption.

Surplus compensation

If you produce more energy than you use, the surplus is injected into the grid, and you receive financial compensation. Additionally, with the Solar Cloud virtual battery, you can store excess energy for use in future months or even in other electricity contracts, such as a second home.

Energy autonomy

With a physical battery, you can use unused energy later, when the sun isn’t shining.

Tax benefits

Some autonomous communities offer tax incentives for self-consumption systems, such as property tax (the Spanish IBI tax) discounts.

How Does Photovoltaic Self-Consumption Work?

Below, we’ll explain how a photovoltaic self-consumption system works and its advantages. With this technology, you can manage your system from your smartphone and store energy for times with less sunshine.

Our Photovoltaic Self-Consumption Services in Spain

At Iberdrola España, we offer personalized solutions for anyone who wants to harness solar energy through our Smart Solar service. This solution lets individuals, apartment buildings, and companies generate their own clean renewable energy, optimize their solar energy usage, and save up to 70% on their electricity bills. On our commercial website, check your location on the map and calculate your home's potential savings with Smart Solar.