Renewable Energy
Sector

The photovoltaic sector has a great weight in the Spanish economy, with a contribution to GDP of 7,014 million euros in 2022, creating 197,383 direct, indirect and induced jobs, of which 40,683 were direct, according to the Annual Report of the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).

Within this context, Castilla-La Mancha is the second region with the highest installed capacity (6,137 MW, 24% of the national total) and generation (8,510 GWh, 23% of the national total).

Solar thermal energy in Spain is very limited to the southern half of the country; three autonomous communities have 95% of the installed capacity. Castilla-La Mancha is the 3rd region, with 15.16% of capacity and 12.39% of generation.

Wind energy is the technology that contributes most to the energy system in Spain. Spanish wind power ranks fifth in the world ranking of countries with the greatest installed wind power capacity and second in Europe.

With 15.79% of installed capacity and 14.41% of generation, Castilla-La Mancha is consolidated as one of the leading regions for wind energy in Spain. Wind power was the leading source of electricity generation in Castilla-La Mancha in 2023, with 9,017 GWh, reaching a share of 31.5% of the regional total, followed by photovoltaic.

Spain completed its own national hydrogen strategy in October of 2020. The EU will provide funding for hydrogen projects to advance its goals of climate transition and economic recovery after Covid-19. Spain intends to become a net exporter of renewable energy.

Goals for 2030:

• Installed capacity (electrolyzers): 4 GW (more than 300 GW in 2024)
• More than 100 refueling stations
• 5,000 light and heavy vehicles
• 2 train lines
• Handling equipment in 5 largest ports and airports

Source: National Hydrogen Association

The National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Testing Centre (CNH2) is the only public research center studying hydrogen technology in Spain. It was created in 2007 and is located in Castilla-La Mancha (in Puertollano, Ciudad Real province). Puertollano is connected to important Spanish cities and offers direct connection to Madrid via high-speed train. The CNH2 is dedicated to promoting scientific and technological research related to hydrogen technologies and fuel cells.

Castilla-La Mancha has its own characteristics that make the region a reference point in this sector. Among the many initiatives, benefits and projects, the following stand out:

• its abundant and high quality agricultural production, which serves as raw material for the bio-based industry.
• The institutional support for R&D&i, thanks to which the region has many public and private research centers, including the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park, the Regional Institute for Research and Development of Agriculture and Forestry (IRIAF), the Institute for Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems (ISFOC) or the National Center for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (CNH2).
• There are also many public-private collaborations and R&D initiatives at the national forefront, such as the CLAMBER project (Castilla-La Mancha Bio-Economy Region). This project was led and developed by the Regional Institute for Research and Development in Agriculture and Forestry (IRIAF) of Castilla-La Mancha and has the following objectives:
  • Construction of a technologically advanced biorefinery at demonstration scale to explore the production of innovative value-added bioproducts and biofuels from biomass.
  • Create a technological pole in the region to activate synergies with companies that both produce biomass and are users of bioproducts, and to promote the creation and exploitation of new market niches.
  • Revitalize the local economy and reverse the negative demographic trend characteristic of rural areas.
  • Creation of an efficient system of public-private cooperation focused on scientific-technological progress and a driving force for initiatives with European and international scope.