Catalonia's commitment to the transition towards cleaner energies is reinforced with the latest expansion of the line of aid for self-consumption, storage and thermal renewables. Initially endowed with 115 million euros, this line managed by the Catalan Institute of Energy (Icaen) has undergone its third expansion, with which 93 million euros have been added. The total sum therefore reaches 363 million euros.
The main objective of the increase in the budget is respond to the overwhelming demand for applications which has exceeded expectations since the opening of the program at the end of 2021: Icaen has received more than 85,000 requests. This has posed quite a logistical challenge when it comes to managing the files in an agile manner and granting aid in a timely manner.
However, successive enlargements have had a impact on processing times, generating concern among applicants. Aware of this situation, Icaen has reinforced its internal structure to streamline processes and reduce response times, thus minimizing uncertainty for beneficiaries.
The expansion of the financial envelope not only seeks to meet the growing demand, but also encourage the participation of various sectors of society. The program is aimed not only at industry, but also at services, the domestic sphere and public administrations, promoting adoption of sustainable practices in all areas of Catalan society.
Since the last quarter of 2023, Icaen has begun to pay aid to those applicants who have met the requirements and adequately justified the installation carried out. This step contributes to materialize the Generalitat's commitment to sustainability and offers an additional stimulus for more actors to join the transition towards cleaner energies in Catalonia.
The expansion of aid for self-consumption is part of the strategy of the Generalitat to meet the objectives established in the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition of Catalonia. This regulation seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of renewable energy to alleviate the effects of climate change. With this position, the community positions itself as leader in promoting distributed generation and the energy autonomy of its citizens.
The measure not only benefits consumers who choose to install self-consumption systems, but also stimulates economic activity in the renewable energy sector and associated industry. In addition to the environmental benefits, the initiative will contribute to the employment creation in the field of renewable energies, strengthening the local value chain. Furthermore, reducing dependence on fossil fuels is expected to help maintain greater stability of electricity supply and mitigate the impacts associated with energy price volatility.