The unanimous vote in favour of the Renewable Energy Directive of the European Parliament last month has opened a 10-year period of stable legal framework for 2010-2020 once the Directive adopted and transferred into national law, according to José Alfonso Nebrera, president of European Solar Thermal Electric Association (ESTELA).

The RES Directive if duly implemented by Members States contains most of the requirements for its sustainable and rapid market deployment.

In fact, the Directive allows for the 'European sun belt' to provide solar electricity for Member States by statistical transfers or by means of implementing join projects. In addition, both the RES Directive and the Mediterranean Solar Plan launched in the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean will open the way to develop solar thermal electricity in the North African countries and benefit both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. 

In a release, it was stated that the solar thermal electricity industry sector has not only confirmed its strong market penetration in Europe but it is also a firm candidate to be the "success story" of renewable in the new EU legal framework of the RES Directive substantially contributing to meet the EU targets for 2010-2020.

In terms of developments, it mentioned that that Andasol 1, the first solar thermal power plant with parabolic trough technology built in Europe has been connected to the grid and started commercial operation. Following Solucar PS10 in Sevilla and Andasol 1 in Granada, Puertollano in Ciudad Real, is expected to be connected early 2009. Other 12 plants are in construction only in Spain. By 2010 the solar thermal electricity capacity installed in Spain is likely to be of 400-500 MW.