Thermoelectric solar energy in Spain

Over the first decade of the 21st century, the Spanish Government has developed a policy to encourage the production and use of renewable forms of energy. One consequence has been the establishment of the legal framework that grants economic feasibility to the installation of thermoelectric solar plants. The big companies already involved in the production of renewable energies have increased their investment in new plants with greater installed power; these are mainly located in southern Spain. In this paper we address four basic aspects touching on this system of electric energy generation: (i) the technological one, (ii) the policies which have favoured its development, (iii) the geographical situation of the most important plants and (iv) its environmental effects.