The center-right government of Spain was probably the most hostile executive among European nations when it comes to the solar industry. Sweeping cuts that they applied to subsidies for solar have been heavily contested in Spanish and European courts.
Now, the Council of Ministers of Spain take a hallucinating decision: approved the "privatization" of the Sun, giving the green light to the so-called "tax on the Sun".
On October 9, the Spanish government announced that it will be implemented in the near future a new set of tax regulations on the installation and solar power generation, writes taxationinfonews.com.
While the full set will not be available until its publication in the Official Gazette, it indicated that regulations separate tax will be applied depending on the production capacity of the plant – covered photovoltaic panels that produce less than 10kW, those 10kW and 100kW produce between, and large installations with a capacity of 100kW potential.
According to pv-magazine.com, Ministry of Energy says that this are not taxes or compensation for losses per utility, but contributions to overall system costs.
The new fees will begin to be charged every six months. Solar photovoltaic installations below 10 kW shall not be charged for the amount of power it generates, but will still be subject to a fixed fee, depending on the installed power.
In addition, PV systems up to 100 kW will not be able to sell electricity, and will have to donate the electricity in the country without remuneration.
100 kW photovoltaic power plants will have to be registered before they have the right to sell electricity in any spot market from Spain.
According to the site Público, one of the few recommendations formulated by the State Council, which was incorporated in the final text, it is that using batteries that will be prohibited. However, using the batteries that store the energy produced will be allowed as long as they do not reduce capacity charge based on photovoltaic systems.
PV industry in Spain: The fee is "perversion of democracy"
Naturally, Spain's solar industry is infuriated by this measure. Association of Renewable Energy Producers (ANPIER) says about the law that is a "perversion of democracy".
Moreover, the association describes as an obstacle to the government's decision, accusing the government that punishes citizens and small businesses that have chosen to generate their own energy.
