Spain is a geographically diverse country, with climate zones to match: the hot, dry southern coast gives way to cool, snowy mountain ranges in the north. The sun, a valuable renewable energy resource, is an almost constant presence throughout the year. Spain’s household heating and cooling needs vary by location but, compared to many European countries, are relatively small.
The Spanish government has set the goal of a decarbonised energy system by 2050. In order for that to happen, however, Spain will need to rapidly scale up the deployment of climate-friendly space and water heating technologies. This briefing, based on principles from Regulatory Assistance Project’s Heat pump toolkit: A policy toolkit for global mass heat pump deployment, looks at the policy drivers needed to achieve Spanish climate change and energy goals, including existing Spanish heat pump regulations and the future role of heat pumps in Spain’s energy transition. Solar energy in heating and how it could help heat pumps is touched upon, and the paper also explores the potential of reversible heat pumps for cooling and heating, an important use of the technology, particularly in warmer climes.
Supporting the deployment of climate-neutral heating and cooling technologies will require policy adjustments, such as:
- Reform energy pricing to reduce the relative cost of electricity compared to gas and lower heat pump running costs.
- Reform the grant system to offer support for a wider range of heat pumps, including hot water heat pumps and air-to-air heat pumps.
- Allocate long-term funding for the grant scheme to provide multi-year market certainty.
- Prioritise a comprehensive heating and cooling strategy to provide direction to households, businesses and the heating market.
- Evaluate the role of reversible air-to-air heat pumps as a full replacement for gas heating systems in Spain.
- Consider creating new or enhancing existing obligations on energy suppliers to drive more rapid delivery of heat pumps.
- Roll out a communications plan and funding for installer training centres to support an efficient rollout of heat pumps.
- Develop a simple loan programme or guarantee funds to provide low-cost finance for households looking to switch to heat pumps but which lack capital.
