- There are already thirteen Autonomous Communities that, as a result of the work carried out by UNEF, have eliminated this administrative barrier and have streamlined the approval processes.
- The reactivation of self-consumption is key to Spain's economic recovery due to its capacity to create wealth and help reduce costs for companies.
Madrid, December 03, 2021 | The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) has achieved that Asturias approves the adaptation of the autonomous laws of urbanism to the reality of self-consumption, so that these facilities are processed by the way of prior communication and do not require a building license, which considerably streamlines the administrative process.
The building license has an impact on the cost of the installation, can cause delays of up to eight months in the processing of the project and discourages citizens who want to opt for self-consumption to reduce their electricity bill and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Thus, thanks to the work carried out by UNEF, an association that represents 90% of the sector, twelve Autonomous Communities have already eliminated this procedure. The Spanish Photovoltaic Union continues to work for this measure to be extended to the whole territory and to eliminate the building licensed where it is still required: Murcia, Cantabria, La Rioja and País Vasco.
"It is great news that Asturias has taken this big step. The improvement of the agility of the procedures is, at this time more than ever, key to reactivate the activity of the whole network of self-employed and companies that can make self-consumption one more way of economic recovery and employment generation in the municipalities after the current crisis by the COVID-19", said Jose Donoso, general director of UNEF.
"Since the first meeting that the Spanish Photovoltaic Union held with the Principality, we have been working side by side with the Administration to achieve this important milestone for solar photovoltaic self-consumption in Asturias. It will undoubtedly mean its take-off, once and for all. It is a fundamental step to speed up the procedures and a decisive bet to be able to take advantage of the recovery funds", said Javier Fernández Font Pérez, UNEF delegate in Asturias.
UNEF recalls the need to simplify, digitalize and standardize administrative procedures at regional and local level, denouncing that there are currently Autonomous Communities that require different processes to a self-consumption installation. Eliminating these administrative barriers is essential for self-consumption to contribute, along with photovoltaic plants on the ground, to meet the target set by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and for there to be a faster recovery and less job destruction.
About UNEF
The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) is the industry association for photovoltaic solar energy in Spain. Made up of more than 600 companies, entities and groups from the entire technology value chain, it represents more than 90% of the sector's activity in Spain and brings together practically all of them: producers, installers, engineering firms, manufacturers of raw materials, modules and components, distributors and consultants. UNEF also holds the presidency and co-secretariat of FOTOPLAT, the Spanish photovoltaic technology platform. The platform brings together universities, research centers and leading companies in photovoltaic R&D in Spain.