On 17th March, the Spanish government approved the new Technical Buildings Code (CTE, Codigo tecnico de la Edificacion), the most significant reform of the buildings sector for decades. Spain has now become one of the countries with the most advacned solar legislation in the world.

The new CTE applies to new buildings and to those undergoing a substantial renovation. It applies to the residential sector as well as to buildings for commercial use, schools, sport centres, industrial buildings etc.

The new CTE includes following main areas: security of the builduings structure, fire safety, other safety and health issues, sustainabilbiy and energy efficiency of the buildings. The latter part goes far beyond the minimal level of implementation of the EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings, and contains the provisions most relevant for solar thermal.

The new CTE obliges to cover 30 to 70 % of the domestic hot water demand with solar thermal energy or other renewable energy forms. The variation of the solar share depends on different parameters, mainly the assumed volume of demand and the geographical position of the building. Moreover, large buildings in the tertiary sector (for instance office buildings >4.000 m2) will also be obliged to install PV systems.

The new CTE is expected to be published on the Spanish Official Journal within a week. While most of its provisions will apply only one year after publication, those concerning energy efficiency and solar energy will apply already after six months, i.e. probably from October 2006. Because the obligation refers to the authroisation of the new buildings, it will then take circa one further year until the impact will be felt on the solar thermal market.

The original announcenemt of the Spanish government is available (in spanish) here (scroll down until the section "Vivienda")!