Spain Hits 50 GW Solar Milestone

Why It Matters

Reaching 50 GW positions Spain among the world’s leading solar markets and accelerates its decarbonisation targets, but constrained grid connections could curb further renewable growth.

Key Takeaways

• Spain reaches 50 GW solar capacity in early 2026
• Solar now 33.9% of installed power, 18.4% generation 2025
• Renewable permits fell 69% year‑on‑year, grid bottlenecks persist
• Wind plus solar exceed half of national capacity
• Developers requested 40 GW grid access, only 4.5 GW approved

Pulse Analysis

Spain’s solar surge reflects a broader European push toward clean energy, driven by ambitious net‑zero commitments and generous feed‑in incentives. The 50 GW benchmark not only places the country in the top tier of global solar markets but also underscores the effectiveness of regional development programs that have concentrated new capacity in Castilla y León, Andalusia, and Castilla‑La Mancha. Coupled with wind’s 33.26 GW, renewables now account for more than half of Spain’s installed generation mix, reshaping the nation’s energy landscape and reducing reliance on fossil‑fuel‑intensive combined‑cycle gas plants.

Despite the impressive build‑out, Spain’s grid infrastructure is straining under the rapid influx of renewable projects. Permit approvals for new renewable capacity plunged 69% in 2025, and only 4.5 GW of the 40 GW of grid‑access requests received approval, leaving a substantial backlog. Investors are increasingly wary of these bottlenecks, as delayed connections can erode project economics and deter future financing. Policymakers face a critical choice: accelerate transmission upgrades and streamline permitting, or risk stalling the momentum that has propelled solar to its historic milestone.

Looking ahead, the convergence of solar and wind dominance offers Spain a strategic advantage in meeting EU climate goals and securing energy independence. Continued investment in storage, demand‑response technologies, and grid digitalisation will be essential to integrate the growing variable generation smoothly. If the grid constraints are addressed, Spain could see another gigawatt‑scale expansion in the next few years, reinforcing its position as a renewable‑energy powerhouse and setting a template for other nations navigating the transition from fossil fuels to a decarbonised grid.

Spain hits 50 GW solar milestone

pv magazine International · February 12, 2026 · By Pilar Sánchez Molina

Spain’s installed solar capacity reached 50 GW in early 2026 after adding about 8.7 GW in 2025, according to grid operator Red Eléctrica de España (REE).

Spain’s total installed generation capacity stands at 147.5 GW, of which 50.0 GW is solar, according to data from REE updated on Feb. 1. The total includes 8.98 GW of self‑consumption capacity, although Spanish solar association Unión Española Fotovoltaica (UNEF) places cumulative self‑consumption installations at 9.3 GW.

Solar accounts for 33.9 % of Spain’s installed power capacity and generated 18.4 % of total electricity in 2025.

Regional additions in 2025

• Castilla y León: 2.03 GW

• Andalusia: 1.96 GW

• Castilla‑La Mancha: 1.25 GW

• Aragón: 636 MW

• Extremadura: 582 MW

• Murcia: 270 MW

Wind ranks second with 33.26 GW, representing 22.5 % of total installed capacity. Combined, wind and solar account for more than half of Spain’s generation capacity.

Wind capacity by region

• Castilla y León: 7.71 GW (23.2 % of national total)

• Aragón: 5.97 GW (18 %)

• Castilla‑La Mancha: 4.98 GW (15 %)

• Galicia: 4.03 GW (12.1 %)

Combined‑cycle gas plants rank third with 26.25 GW, accounting for 17.8 % of installed capacity. Hydropower represents 11.6 %, with just over 17 GW installed. Nuclear capacity stands at 7.1 GW, or 4.8 % of the total.

REE data as of Dec. 31 2024 showed installed solar capacity at 32.35 GW, excluding self‑consumption. Based on the latest figures, about 8.67 GW of additional solar capacity was installed in 2025.

Renewable‑energy authorizations declined in 2025. Spain granted permits for 8.19 GW of new renewable capacity during the year, down 69 % from 2024. Solar accounted for 85.6 % of the approved capacity, or 7.03 GW.

Grid access remains constrained. In 2025, developers requested 40 GW of grid‑access and connection permits, but only 4.5 GW was approved. About 25 GW was rejected due to insufficient capacity, and 8.5 GW remains under review.

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About the author

Pilar Sánchez Molina joined pv magazine in May 2017, where she manages the Spanish and Latin America newsletter and website. She has been reporting on solar since 2011.