Circe — a private, non-profit research center established in 1993 by the University of Zaragoza, the regional government of Aragon, and utility Endesa — has published findings from a nine-month study of curtailment across Spanish substations. The national average curtailment rate sits at 3.83%, but the distribution is highly uneven across regions.
Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha record the highest curtailment rates, while Badajoz province alone exceeds 37%. Notably, Andalusia — Spain's largest solar market by installed capacity — does not show comparably elevated figures. Circe stressed that the more relevant question for project developers is not the regional average, but the expected loss at a specific grid connection point.
The analysis identifies three distinct curtailment drivers. First, grid capacity limitations arise when transmission and distribution networks cannot absorb all generated power, particularly in high-renewables, low-demand areas. Solutions include infrastructure upgrades, battery storage, demand-side management, and better spatial planning for new projects.
Second, system security curtailments are triggered by grid disturbances, low inertia, voltage issues, or oscillation risks, and can be addressed with synchronous condensers and STATCOM devices. Third, market oversupply curtailment calls for electrification of industry and transport, scaling up green hydrogen, energy storage deployment, and stronger cross-border interconnections. To support developers, Circe has also built the GenerApp tool, which estimates curtailment risk at any given transmission network node.
Source: PV curtailment exceeds 3.8% in Spain over past nine months - PV Magazine International· Based on source, with AI-assisted rewriting.
Related articles
Heat Pump, Solar & H Tariff: How to Plan Together
Combining a heat pump, rooftop solar panels and a preferential electricity tariff can significantly cut household energy bills — but only if you plan all three as one integrated system. This guide walks through the decision logic, common mistakes and key considerations for homeowners.
Solar PV in the Arctic: Svalbard's surprising potential
Researchers at Norway's SINTEF have found that solar PV in Longyearbyen, one of the world's northernmost inhabited settlements, can achieve capacity factors comparable to central European cities during summer. The study shows that PV, combined with wind and storage, could play a pivotal role in the Arctic energy transition.
Solar + Heat Pump: When Do They Really Cut Your Bill?
Combining rooftop solar with an air-source heat pump seems like a perfect match, but real savings depend on how well their operating hours overlap. This guide explains the key decision factors for homeowners considering both systems.
Why broadband communication is the backbone of grid modernization
The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) has welcomed Eversource Energy and Hawaiian Electric as new members, underlining a growing consensus: without robust communication infrastructure, modern grids cannot reliably integrate solar, storage and other distributed energy resources.
Comments
0 commentsBe the first to comment.