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Spain must reduce its energy consumption by 23% and achieve 100% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030. This paper presents the current energy scenario en Spain, and the outlooks for different renewable options, with special focus on photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. In 2012, Spain was the number two European country in terms of installed rewnewable energy power. Solar PV technology has the potential to meet Spain's future energy demand and its associated environmental challenges. This paper gives a review of solar energy economy at global scale for both PV and thermal power technologies. The Spanish energy scenario shows actual trends and progress made by solar power. Economic concepts of levelised cost of electricity and grid parity are presented. The financial analysis shows that PV electricity achieves grid parity at a plant profitability rate up to 7.26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The most widespread support system for renewable-energy-sourced electricity (RES-E) is the feed-in tariff (FIT). FITs can be divided into fixed-FIT and premium systems. The latter type may also include a cap and floor option, turning it into a variable premium system. The cap value (upper limit) aims to avoid windfall profits for the RES-E investor if the electricity price rises quickly, while the floor value (lower limit) ensures minimum revenue, reducing the risk caused by low electricity prices. This paper examines the performance of the variable premium system as established in Spain (hourly-based) and investigates the possibility of alternative novel designs. For this purpose, an analysis was undertaken of the cap & floor system established in Spain based on real market data over a three year period and its performance compared to the fixed premium system (no cap & floor limitations) and two novel cap & floor designs (monthly- and yearly-based). Two other novel alternatives were also considered: daily- and weekly-based. It is shown that the hourly-based cap & floor system did not result in a reduction of the overall RES-E revenue compared to the fixed premium system over the three year period, though revenue was more evenly distributed from year-to-year. The paper concludes that variable premium systems should be based on monthly or yearly cap & floor mechanism as opposed to an hourly one. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Optimal siting of wind farms based on a pre-assessment of the spatiotemporal variability of wind resources is considered a suitable method for reducing fluctuations in the delivered output. In this study, we explore the potential for balancing wind energy generation in the Iberian Peninsula using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This technique permits the discovery of possibly new promising locations for wind power harvesting and an evaluation of the existing wind farm network in terms of reliability in energy generation. Data input to the PCA consists of hourly wind capacity factor in a 5-km spatial resolution grid covering the entire peninsula. These data are derived from an equivalent wind farm power curve fed by modeled wind speed data from 80 m above ground level. PCA reveals three significant balancing patterns prevailing over the IP, where half of the currently operating wind farms in Spain are placed. Hence, among the many constituents of the existing wind farm network, these spots offer the best opportunity for stable power supply. The paper concludes by making proposals on an optimum wind capacity allocation based on the idea of equally distributing installed power between positive/negative dipoles emerging from balancing principal components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]