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In 2006, Spain implemented a regulatory instrument of national jurisdiction promulgated by the Royal Decree 314/2006 referred to as the Technical Building Code (TBC or CTE in Spanish) in order to regulate the basic quality requirements of buildings and their respective installations concerning thermal and photovoltaic solar energy. It applies to new constructions as well as any modifications made on any existing building with the final goal to guarantee and promote the use of renewable sources of energy.

Concerning thermosolar energy, Spain was the first country in Europe to enforce the integration of solar thermal systems in new constructed or refurnished buildings in order to cover from 30 to 70% of the Domestic Hot Water (DHW) demand. Article 15.4 of the TBC states that “buildings with foreseen demand for hot water or the conditioning of a covered swimming pool, part of the thermal energy needs shall be covered by incorporating systems for the collection, storage and use of low temperature solar energy […]”.

In relation to Photovoltaic power, Article 15.5 requires the incorporation of “systems for the collection and transformation of solar energy into electric power by photovoltaic processes for proprietary use or supply to the network”. This policy triggered the production of this type of renewable energy positioning Spain in the top of the largest producers of photovoltaic electricity in the world by 2009.