Solar Photovoltaic Power in Spain.

Abstract

Favourable geographical conditions and firm governmental support have resulted in a strong growth of photovoltaic energy in Spain in the last decade, especially in the period 2007–2008. This has led to an important economic development of this industrial sector and the appearance of many effects in both rural and urban landscapes. Nevertheless, in the last years, the situation of the photovoltaic sector has changed noticeably, as the exponential growth of installations and the arrival of economic crisis have provoked the adoption of more restrictive laws, which have opened a period of stagnation and uncertainty. In contrast with other countries, in Spain, ground-mounted solar PV plants have predominated, transforming many rural environments. Some studies which address the impact of these systems and the social perception about them have appeared recently. They also suggest criteria in order to improve their integration in buildings and landscapes. In this chapter, an overview about the deployment of Spanish photovoltaic sector is offered, as well as about the factors which have caused its rise and fall and the consequences of these processes in the landscape.