How are the Taradell Sostenible cooperative's solar panels benefiting the local community?

The Taradell Sostenible cooperative has installed solar panels on the roofs of a sports center and a cultural center, using government funding to supply affordable, renewable electricity to over 100 households in the area, including many vulnerable citizens.

What role is the Spanish government playing in the growth of energy communities?

The Spanish government, through the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), is providing €148.5 million in initial funding to support the development of 200 energy community projects across the country. This is helping to expand access to affordable, clean electricity and tackle fuel poverty.

How has the abolition of Spain's "sunshine tax" impacted renewable energy generation?

Since the Spanish government abolished the "sunshine tax" in 2018, which had previously discouraged solar power adoption, renewable energy generation in the country has increased 17-fold. This has enabled the growth of community-driven solar power initiatives like Taradell Sostenible.

Home / Environment / Grassroots Solar Power Cooperatives Tackle Fuel Poverty Across Spain

Grassroots Solar Power Cooperatives Tackle Fuel Poverty Across Spain

14 Nov

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Summary

Taradell Sostenible cooperative supplies renewable energy to over 100 households
EU funding helps expand energy communities across Spain
Renewable energy generation increases 17-fold since 2018 solar tax abolition

In 2025, a grassroots movement of renewable energy cooperatives is transforming local power grids across Spain. It began in the small Catalan town of Taradell, where four activists formed a cooperative, Taradell Sostenible, to promote sustainable practices and supply clean electricity to the community.

Taradell Sostenible has since grown to 111 members and now provides power to over 100 households, including many of the area's most vulnerable citizens. The cooperative installed solar panels on local government buildings, funded by Spain's Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), which is working to expand energy communities nationwide.

Renewable energy generation in Spain has surged 17-fold since 2018, when the government abolished a controversial "sunshine tax" that had previously discouraged solar power adoption. The IDAE is now prioritizing the development of energy communities, providing €148.5 million in initial funding for 200 projects across the country.