Incentives to promote solar thermal energy in Spain

The growth in the use of Renewable Energies in Spain has been remarkable. Among these energies is solar thermal energy. However, there are barriers which impede citizens from deciding to install the technologies that use this type of energy in their homes. Over recent years, various measures have been adopted to enhance and promote the use of solar thermal energy. These measures have been developed at all administrative levels: central, regional and local. One of the most used measures has been the adoption of legislative regulations that force the use of this type of energy in construction. Another alternative route is promotion by means of incentives, in three aspects: tax incentives, non-refundable grants and favourable lines of finance. However, the measures applied have been found to be insufficient, and alternative stimuli are needed.