Authorities in Spain’s autonomous community of Castilla y Le\u00f3n are considering extending an existing environmental impact tax \u2014 the Impuesto sobre la Afecci\u00f3n Medioambiental \u2014 to photovoltaic installations. The proposed charge would range from \u20ac600 to \u20ac2,000 per hectare, covering solar parks across the region.<\/p>\n
The solar industry has responded sharply. Jos\u00e9 Donoso, head of national solar association UNEF, argued the initiative amounts to a revenue-raising exercise targeting solar projects. UNEF describes the measure as effectively a tax on future development for Spanish businesses and citizens.<\/p>\n
The association raised four specific objections. Solar parks already pay multiple levies \u2014 including IAE, IVPEE, and IEE charges alongside municipal duties \u2014 while host municipalities receive around \u20ac10,000 per installed megawatt each year. The flat rate also discriminates geographically: low-sun northern areas would pay the same as sunnier southern zones, and agrivoltaic projects combining grazing, crops, and beekeeping would face disproportionate costs. Additionally, UNEF noted that every project within scope already holds a positive environmental assessment. Finally, the proposed exemptions fail to adequately cover shared self-consumption arrangements established under Real Decreto-ley 7\/2026, potentially blocking businesses from accessing that option.<\/p>\n
According to UNEF research, every euro invested in solar saves consumers eight euros on electricity bills. Over the previous 18 months, the sector delivered more than \u20ac17 billion in savings for Spanish households. Despite this record, revenue from the levy would flow into the regional general budget rather than directly benefiting the communities that host the installations, as reported by pv Europe.<\/p>\n