Said document can be found following this link:
The document – which is dated July 2011 – complements the material available until now in connection with the climate zones, which consisted on a map of Spain showing the different climate zones and of a list of municipalities (both are included in the Technical Building Code – “Código Técnico de la Edificación”). All of these sources establish the zoning as a function of the overall average annual solar radiation for a horizontal area.
Finally, with of this document every Spanish municipality has been assigned to a climate zone that determines the yearly amount of operation hours which are entitled to retribution according to the following scheme:
Technology |
Operation hours entitled to retribution per year |
|||||
Zone I |
Zone II |
Zone III |
Zone IV |
Zone V |
||
Permanent installation |
1.232 |
1.362 |
1.492 |
1.632 |
1.753 |
|
Installation with 1-axis follower |
1.602 |
1.770 |
1.940 |
2.122 |
2.279 |
|
Installation with 2-axis follower |
1.664 |
1.838 |
2.015 |
2.204 |
2.367 |
This document was published only a few days before the estimated date on which the photovoltaic facilities under the economic regime of Royal Decree1578/2008 would reach the annual quota of operation hours which are entitled to retribution as stated in Royal Decree Law 14/2010.
The new zoning will apply to photovoltaic facilities under the economic regime of Royal Decree 661/2007 from January 1, 2014. This is due to the fact that these facilities are subjected to a special limitation on the operation hours which are entitled to retribution from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013.
The document published by the CNE thus ends a situation of legal uncertainty which has gone on for far too long.
For further information, please contact Antonio C. Jiménez: [email protected]