STORY: Spain's solar power poised to surpass wind power as top renewable energy source
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 22, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:28
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of different facilities and solar energy parks in Spain
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ALVARO LUNA, Renewable energy expert at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
3. various of different facilities and solar energy parks in Spain
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ALVARO LUNA, Renewable energy expert at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
5. various of different facilities and solar energy parks in Spain

STORYLINE:

Spain's solar power is on track to overtake wind power as the leading source in the country's expanding renewable energy sector, which now accounts for more than half of the total energy mix, industry insiders told Xinhua on Friday.

Renewable energy sources have supplied 57.5 percent of Spain's electricity production this year, according to the association of renewable energy companies. Wind power remains the largest contributor with 22.4 percent, followed by photovoltaic solar energy at 18.3 percent.
   
Spain's national grid operator reported that large photovoltaic plants will soon surpass wind farms as the energy source with the highest installed capacity in Spain.
   
Ground-based photovoltaic installations, excluding self-consumption systems on rooftops of homes and businesses, now have a combined capacity of over 29,600 megawatts -- nearly double the 15,300 megawatts recorded in 2021, according to REE.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ALVARO LUNA, Renewable energy expert at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
"In terms of general data in Spain, the energy mix is good, and the presence of solar is healthy due to it having a large availability of resources and so there's a lot of production, which means the situation in general is good."

Yet the researcher pointed out that there is still much work to be done in related areas, such as energy sharing. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ALVARO LUNA, Renewable energy expert at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
"I think it's important for our technology companies to capitalize more on solar technology. It's a European problem. Photovoltaic energy has immense potential as the alternative energy source Europe needs, but we're not fully utilizing the technology."

Luna stressed the importance of developing energy storage solutions to store surplus energy for later use, as solar energy production is concentrated during specific parts of the day.
   
He also highlighted the need for diversification of renewable energy sources to improve system flexibility, citing solar thermal energy -- using the sun's heat -- as a promising area for future investment.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)