PVTIME – Spain’s Congress has voted down a royal decree aimed at strengthening the national power grid. The decree was introduced following the major blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula on 28 April. The vote saw 183 votes against and 165 votes in favour. The decree, which focuses on solar and wind energy, was drawn up two months after the incident to prevent repeats.
The blackout affected 35 million people in Spain and all of Portugal, causing disruption to transport and industry and putting pressure on the healthcare system. The reforms aimed to address this issue through three key steps: enabling renewable energy sources to assist in grid voltage control, accelerating the deployment of 22.5GW of storage capacity by 2030, and increasing the limits for small-scale energy self-consumption to enhance community autonomy. These reforms were considered essential for tackling Spain’s 67% renewable energy penetration alongside inadequate storage capacity.
Energy bodies reacted strongly. UNEF, the solar trade association, expressed regret at the decision, despite noting broad support for the measures. Its director general emphasised the risks to energy security and industrial competitiveness, urging a renewed cross-party debate. APPA Renovables warned that without reforms, there would be more negative pricing periods, which would threaten the viability of renewable projects.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez plans to reintroduce the measures and is confident that they will be passed.
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