L R AS Published on Monday 6 April 2020 - n° 316 - Categories:European countries, self-consumption

Coronavirus in Spain

The Spanish solar association UNEF interviewed different actors to perceive the effects of the epidemic on their activity. It reports the statements made by the developer of self-consumption installations, Powen :

"We had

problems with the supply of components and panels, then very quickly the situation evolved to containment. Until last week, the company was installing systems while implementing security measures. Now all installations are shut down. However, we have continued with maintenance and repair (O&M). There are no problems.

"We are trying to sell self-consumption. For the moment, the population has something else to think about, whereas they can now install this means to use their production. The health crisis will certainly force households to concentrate on the essentials and reduce investment and therefore self-consumption. This attitude will be temporary because the advantages are undeniable".

There should be no price increases because there is no shortage. The Chinese factories have started producing again. There may be delays, but no increases.

This crisis indicates the advantage of being self-sufficient, but not at any price. If a Spanish panel costs twice as much as the same Chinese one, it is not worth it. Spain is going to go back to basics: solar energy is an industry that generates an asset, in kilowatt-hours, that is both real and necessary. The projects will remain bankable. There may be a halt to the projects due to economic uncertainty, but solar energy will restart. The only uncertainty is: on what horizon?

PV Tech of 2 April

Subscribe to the newsletter "Le Fil de l'Actu"...

Most read articles in the last 10 days