Asier Martínez Jurio
The European Commission has approved a €699 million Spanish plan to support investments in energy storage facilities to foster the transition to a zero-emission economy.
According to the Commission’s report on Monday, the plan contributes to achieving the European Commission’s priorities for 2024-2029 based on policy guidelines, which require investments in clean energy and technologies.
The plan was approved under the State aid scheme of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF), adopted by the Commission on March 9, 2023, and amended on November 20, 2023, and May 2, 2024.
The objective of the plan is to provide investment support for the deployment of large-scale energy storage. This will ensure independence from fossil fuel imports and greater penetration of variable renewable energy sources in the Spanish electricity system.
The aid, partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will take the form of direct grants to support the construction of 1,800 MWh of new electricity storage capacity. The measure will be open to all storage technologies.
The Commission has considered that the Spanish scheme complied with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, the aid will be provided through a tendering process open to all technologies; limited by ERDF co-financing percentages and will not exceed 85%; and awarded no later than 31 December 2025.
The Commission has concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities in accordance with Article 107 (3)(c) TFEU and the conditions set out in the TCTF. On this basis, the Commission has approved the scheme under EU State aid rules.
