Why aren’t we installing solar panels on every available space?
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Spanish government has come up with a range of measures to reduce energy use, which is a good thing; what I don’t understand is why there isn’t a greater focus on using a resource for which our country is best known: the sun.
Sadly, in Spain, anybody interested in installing solar energy in their home faces a highly confusing array of rules and regulations and lack of information. Generally speaking, people who install solar panels do so on the basis of what an installer tells them, and who will try to overcome any initial qualms in the hope of making a sale. As a result, the sizing of an installation, the cost, the characteristics of the equipment or the expectations of savings or subsidies are rarely based on the needs of the house, and few alternatives are explored.
In contrast to Spain’s clearly under-developed solar market, competitors in other countries are beginning to offer solutions based on economies of scale, offering much more affordable cost levels through an online-only presence and focusing on the stages where they can really add value, thus enabling a much faster market development.
France has passed legislation requiring all new buildings to be fitted with solar panels, while Spain lags behind, due to years of…
