Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has launched a €100 million ($117.3 million) program for eco-design and recycling of renewable energy equipment, alongside offering €300 million ($352 million) in aid for their domestic production.
To be shelled out from Spain’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRTR) under the NextGenEU program of the European Commission, the €100 million will be allocated under the RENOCICLA program. Of the total budget for this maiden call for the purpose, €80 million ($94 million) is available as aid for new investments in 2nd life facilities and plants, and the reuse and/or recycling of solar PV panels, lithium batteries, and wind turbine blades.
The most advanced projects that improve the processing and recovery of end-of-life renewable energy equipment will be given priority, ensuring reuse and recycling rates between 65% and 85% by weight, depending on the equipment type. The criteria include enabling the recovery of valuable materials such as lithium and lithium-ion, among others.
An additional €20 million ($94 million) will support innovative eco-design projects to boost the lifespan, reusability, and recyclability of renewable technology components. Projects using more secondary raw materials and cutting waste, including research, development, and feasibility studies, are eligible.
Non-repayable grants will be competitively awarded to top-rated projects based on technical rigor, economic viability, and innovative nature, stated the ministry. All funded facilities must comply with not causing significant harm to the environment.
Announced on June 28, 2025, the call will open from July 8, 2025 to September 16, 2025.
This follows MITECO’s announcement of the winners of the Renewable Energy Value Chain (RENOVAL) manufacturing program to promote domestic production of renewable energy equipment. This includes solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, batteries, electrolyzers for the production of green hydrogen, and essential components of these technologies.
It has selected 33 projects for nearly €296 million in funding to strengthen the value chain and industrial development of renewable energy in Spain.
Of the winning facilities, 21% or 7 are for solar PV projects, 33% or 11 are for wind energy, 12% or 4 are for battery production, and 3% or 1 facility is for heat pumps.
MITECO singles out SUNWAFE, which will receive almost €200 million of the total for the manufacture of silicon ingots and wafers in Spain. Provisional results of this round, launched by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE),were announced in March this year (see SUNWAFE Proposes Silicon Ingot & Wafer Factory In Spain).
“We can already manufacture more than 60% of the solar value chain and almost 100% of the wind energy value chain in our country, and we are exporters of these technologies. However, there are certain components or elements of this value chain where both Spain and Europe are highly dependent on third-party markets. Hence the importance of supporting not only the deployment of the energy transition but also new industrial capacities, the objective of this aid program,” stated MITECO.
