The IDAE allocates 181 million to the first calls to finance innovative renewable projects in seven autonomous communities

These first calls, agreed with the autonomous communities, will allocate more than 181 million euros to support initiatives in seven regions -Andalusia, Principality of Asturias, Castila-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, Madrid and Murcia-, which will mobilize an additional private investment of about 551 million, generating local employment; and eliminate more than 712,000 tons of CO equivalent₂ per year (t eq _CO2/year), contributing to the fight against climate change.

This package aimed at renewables is complemented by two other lines of public support activated by MITECO and coordinated by IDAE, the Energy Rehabilitation Plan (PREE) and the second call for the alternative and sustainable mobility incentive program MOVES. In total, a set of aid endowed with more than 700 million, aligned with the two main lines indicated by the European Union (EU) to activate the recovery of the economy against COVID-19, the energy transition and digitalization.

The aid for renewables approved by the Board of Directors of the Institute, and which will be published soon in the Official State Gazette, is divided into two groups:

• Aid for the installation of electricity generation with renewable sources, which supports photovoltaic, wind, biomass or renewable gas projects, including renewable hydrogen and self-consumption initiatives, among others.

• Aid for the construction of facilities that generate thermal energy from renewable sources, which promotes projects with technologies such as geothermal energy, solar thermal energy, aerothermal energy or biomass. Projects, including innovative applications, will be financed that will allow companies to reduce energy costs and _CO2 emissions and strengthen their competitiveness.

Among other sectors, the aid will promote the penetration of renewable thermal and electrical energies in the agri-food sector and its related industries. The industrial and service sectors are other segments that can benefit from this package.

In this first call, renewable electricity generation will have about 80.2 million euros in support; and the line that finances thermal installations will total almost 101 million.

The distribution of these first calls, agreed with the respective autonomous communities and in accordance with the current availability of items from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in each autonomy, is specified as follows: 124.3 million euros in Andalusia; EUR 10 million in the Principality of Asturias; 8.13 million in Castilla-La Mancha; 7 million in Catalonia; 16.7 million in Extremadura; 11.1 million in the Community of Madrid; and 3.75 million in Murcia.

The IDAE will continue to work with the regions to approve, as soon as possible, the rest of the calls until completing the initial allocation of the aid package, of 316 million euros. In addition, this line may be complemented with the funds provided by the European Union for the economic reactivation against COVID-19.

Activation of investments

It is expected that, together, these first calls will mobilize more than 551 million euros in investments associated with projects that, in addition to being a boost for economic reactivation, will contribute to the diversification of primary energy sources, to the reduction of energy dependence and will avoid the emission of 712,000 t eq CO₂/year, in line with the objectives set by the National Comprehensive Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030 and the draft Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition.

By technologies, and in accordance with the initial distribution agreed with the autonomies, these first calls will distribute 65.7 million for photovoltaic projects; 30.9 for solar thermal; 35.7 million for biomass; 22 million for renewable gases; 13 million for geothermal and hydrothermal; 5.7 for aerothermy; 4.1 for hydraulics; 2.8 for wind; and 750,000 euros for heat networks.

In total, a capacity increase of 344.2 megawatts (MW) is estimated in renewable power generation projects, and 483 MW in thermal generation initiatives.

Just Transition Criteria and Demographic Challenge

The calls for aid will define the specific types of technology eligible, adapted to the needs of each region and agreed with its authorities. When assessing the projects, and also in concert with the regions, criteria are established linked to the just transition, the demographic challenge, innovation, commitment to efficiency, fight against energy poverty, promotion of strategic industrial sectors in the region or support for citizen participation in the energy system.

The aid will be resolved by competitive competition between the applications submitted, so the amounts finally allocated to each of the technologies will depend on the result of said competition, reallocating the potential surplus budgets between the different technologies.

Natural or legal persons, public or private, who are going to carry out a project in accordance with these specifications may apply to the calls. Communities of property, communities of owners, groups of communities of owners and other groups that can carry out the action of the aid may also apply for subsidies.

The programme will be co-financed by European Union Funds, such as the ERDF Fund, and may be reinforced with other European instruments aimed at boosting economic recovery.

Fuetne: La Moncloa