Evaluating the new control structure for the promotion of grid connected photovoltaic systems in Spain: Performance analysis of the period 2008-2010

This work presents public data collected from the Spanish Bulletin of the State (BOE), the National Energy Commission (CNE) and other Governmental agencies. Hence, the study describes the new regulatory scheme for grid connected photovoltaic systems (GCPVS) resulting after the Spanish PV power boom, the evolution of the sector, and analyses the control performance in terms of basic control theory principles, as proposed in the recent work by de la Hoz et al. (Promotion of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Spain: Performance analysis of the period 1998-2008. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2010;14(9): 2547-2563). Obviously, the object of study is too complex to be submitted to rigorous mathematical modelling, but the analogy presented provides useful tools for identifying and understanding the driving forces underlying in the evolution and regulation of the sector.