A significant boost for sustainability
The Diputación de Barcelona has taken a decisive step towards sustainability by announcing a new injection of 25 million euros to promote the use of renewable energy in the province. This programme, now in its third edition, will allow municipalities to submit applications starting from 8 April, marking a milestone in the local energy transition.
Since its launch in 2022, the Renovables project has allocated a total of 201 million euros, funding over a thousand installations in 188 municipalities. The Deputy for Climate Action and Energy Transition, Marc Serra, highlighted that this programme is not only an environmental success but also an economic and social one, contributing to the energy sovereignty of the region.
The new edition of the programme introduces four innovative lines of action. In addition to the usual funding for photovoltaic plants and efficient lighting systems, electric heat pumps will now also be included, replacing gas or oil-based installations. This measure aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner technologies.
A notable feature is the incorporation of energy storage systems. These will allow electricity to be captured during peak solar radiation hours and used at night when prices are higher. “This system will enable municipalities to use solar energy to operate public lighting,” explained Serra.
Each municipality can submit projects worth a maximum of 1.2 million euros, covering between 60% and 70% of the total cost. In some cases, this coverage is expected to reach up to 90%. Installations funded by previous allocations have generated annual savings between 20 and 25 million euros, resources that must be reinvested in sustainable energy policies.
Despite the programme's success, this edition presents a significant reduction compared to the first call, which had an initial budget of 120 million euros. According to Marc Serra, this is due to new fiscal restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Finance following the pandemic. These rules limit financial capacities at both municipal and provincial levels.
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