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Electricity markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, in part, to deal with unpredictability and imbalances in electricity prices. This paper assesses how electricity flows and generation from wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) power impact the volatility and mean of day-ahead electricity prices in Spain. It finds there is a merit order effect from wind and solar PV power at most times of the day, which varies in magnitude for each of the 24 h. Electricity production from wind power is also found to play a clear role in increasing price volatility at all hours. Electricity inflow is shown to decrease both the mean and volatility of the electricity prices. The volatility of electricity prices is revealed to be highly persistent, and thus prone to large transmission shocks. This volatility is also susceptible to new shocks, which may indicate a tendency by market participants to overreact to unexpected shocks in electricity prices, possibly due to the relatively small size of the Iberian electricity market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Spain exemplifies the development of renewable energy in general and photovoltaic solar energy in particular, influenced to a major extent by public regulation. Without suitable caution regarding the approaching world crisis, the regulatory framework gave rise to the fact that Spain would rank second worldwide in 2008 in terms of installed photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. Yet a serious financial and economic crisis still in its infancy started to lead to readjustments, while the new regulatory framework put a stop to the construction of new PV plants. Many companies and investors either went bankrupt or saw their performance levels dwindle. Although the academic literature has analyzed some general aspects related to this boom-and-bust of the Spanish photovoltaic solar sector, no studies have been carried out on a company level. In order to fill this void, this paper analyses the economic and financial performance of Spanish companies involved in photovoltaic solar energy production over the period 2006–2015. The results, based on a longitudinal population sample of around 5469 companies from the sector, show the economic hardships they have experienced, especially smaller enterprises. An improvement in the most recent situation is also noted. The international implications of the Spanish case for scholars, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders worldwide, as well as avenues for further research, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We compare 14 models with various variables, functions and at most 3 coefficients. • The comparisons are based on data from 105 stations in 3 large areas of Spain. • With site-calibrated coefficients most models work accurately. • We study the site-calibrated coefficients as a function of geographical variables. • With general coefficients a simple homogeneous model is adequate in all 3 areas. Reliable data on the availability of solar energy is needed, as solar energy is an essential resource for sustainable development worldwide. However, ground-based radiometric stations are scarce, at least in large areas far from population and in developing countries, so there are difficulties in validating methods for estimating solar radiation. Indirect models mitigate the problem by providing radiation data from other meteorological variables, which can be measured with low-cost equipment and calibrated with data from secondary station networks. However, models' accuracy decreases if estimations are required far away from the calibration stations. It is hoped that modified models that include the influence of geographical and topographical variables can attenuate this drawback in data-scarce regions. This paper evaluates the accuracy and generality of 14 existing models of monthly global solar radiation based on temperature, which is a routinely measured variable. At first, models are locally calibrated at 105 stations in three large areas in Spain. Then, from the local coefficients of eight stations selected in each area, general equations are derived for the coefficients of each model as function of the ratio between elevation and distance to the sea. The predictions of these modified models, i.e., using coefficients derived from general equations, are compared both for the eight base stations and the remaining ones used for validation. In the comparisons, not only errors averaged in groups of stations are considered, but also local results. Several models perform well in some areas, but a simple homogeneous model is the only one whose indicators are good in all areas and hardly vary when using general coefficients derived from the data measured at all available stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims at providing scientific evidence of the existence of a high potential of solar energy, not only for the application of flat photovoltaic installations, but also for tracking systems that use concentration, which promise to contribute towards lowering the cost of photovoltaics to the €1/Wp value. It reports results of solar radiation data gathered in Malta (latitude 36°), which represents a central Mediterranean location and compare it to the Region of Valladolid (latitude 42°), within continental Spain to the west of the Mediterranean region. The availability of direct normal radiation is quite good for both sites and could support the building of concentrated systems in the region. A 5-year cumulative annual global solar radiation on a horizontal surface was found to be 1693 and 1841 kWh/m²/day for Valladolid (Spain) and Marsaxlokk (Malta), respectively. Studies showed that Marsaxlokk had a greater normal direct solar potential than Valladolid, but with lower annual variance. Daily analyses showed that Marsaxlokk had more sunny days, similar frequency of partly cloudy days and much lower overcast days than Valladolid. Seasonal analysis showed that Valladolid had less sunshine in autumn and winter but similar availability as Marsaxlokk in spring and summer. A number of correlations between the Clearness Index and the Diffuse Fraction were also made. Such correlations are very useful in estimating past missing data and forecasting future solar availability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the trends of the Spanish solar PV feed-in tariff (FIT) and its design elements, identifies some implications for the effective and cost-efficient deployment of solar PV in Spain and infers some lessons which might be useful for the implementation of support for solar PV elsewhere. Our analysis is based on a throughout revision of the relevant legislation, official data on deployment and related expenditure, informal discussions with key stakeholders and written documents. Several key design elements within FITs that should be implemented and other elements that should be avoided in order to have an effective and cost-efficient promotion of solar PV are identified. All in all, the specific design elements to be included are clearly contingent upon the preferences and priorities of policymakers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This article addresses the public acceptance issue of renewable energies and, more specifically, the case of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. The paper analyzes the media coverage that influences public acceptance, focusing on a specific case study: the extraordinary development of the Spanish PV sector during the period 2004–2010, a case that has gained international momentum. The work describes the intense general public debate that has been generated—a debate that may well influence Spanish public acceptance of both this and other sources of renewable energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Assessment of responsiveness' role in mechanisms for adjusting economic incentives. • Agent-based model of feed-in tariff for solar adoption in Germany, Spain, Switzerland. • More responsive designs meet deployment policy goal accurately and lower uncertainty. • Surprisingly, results show diminishing returns of responsiveness that add policy cost. • Country-specific attributes shown to influence solar power diffusion patterns. A rapid, global diffusion of clean energy technologies is central to the efforts to curb global carbon dioxide emissions. Deployment policies based on economic incentives have proved effective in accelerating the uptake of renewable technologies, such as solar photovoltaics, and could quicken the adoption of others. However, their outcomes were often uncertain and costly as many countries struggled to adjust incentives while technology prices fell rapidly. This study addresses this challenge by investigating the role of responsiveness – the policy's ability to react to changes in the context in which it operates – in the design of mechanisms for adjusting incentives over time. This paper employs an agent-based model to evaluate quantitatively six policy designs with varying degrees of responsiveness for adjusting a feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaics in three countries – Germany, Spain, and Switzerland – for over a decade. Our first finding confirms that more responsive policy designs tended to produce policies that meet their goals more accurately and certainly. Between the least and the most responsive designs, deviation from policy goals was reduced by 60% and uncertainty was reduced by more than 50%. Our results also suggest that policy responsiveness could have diminishing returns: improvements in the policy's accuracy and certainty tended to become smaller while policy costs per capita tended to become larger as design responsiveness increased. Finally, simulation results show how country-specific attributes influence the diffusion pattern of the technology. These findings have major implications for the design of future deployment policies supporting the diffusion of clean energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]