The Government of Catalonia has recently approved Decree Law 12/2025, a text aimed at breaking the current deadlock by introducing key measures to boost the development of renewable energy in Catalonia. From the regulation of battery storage to the hybridisation of parks and administrative simplification, this decree could mark a turning point. However, it also forces us to look back and acknowledge the mistakes that have defined the past decade.

The main innovation lies in the normalisation of batteries as a fundamental element of the energy system. Their installation is now facilitated, whether independently or in association with photovoltaic or wind farms. Furthermore, in industrial or logistics areas, no changes to urban planning will be required, which will significantly speed up procedures. The decree also grants “overriding public interest” status to such installations, as well as to grid connection lines — a measure that can help overcome legal and territorial barriers that previously made many projects unfeasible, although the true impact of this concept remains to be seen.

From my personal experience, this decree arrives too late, but it is nonetheless welcome. It is unacceptable that developing a photovoltaic solar park of less than 5 MW should take nearly five years of administrative procedures, stretching deadlines to the limit and putting at risk permits, agreements, and investments already made. This has been an all-too-common reality. We are losing the battle for renewable generation not due to a lack of technology or capital, but because of an administrative framework that has, for years, been painfully slow and often contradictory.

But this battle is not only administrative. We have also failed to electrify demand. We have not generated sufficient direct electricity consumption — in transport, industry, or heating and cooling — to absorb what we are already producing from renewable sources. This has had a clear consequence: prices have not followed suit, and many projects have ceased to be viable due to a lack of stability or profitability.

That is why what gives me the most hope about the decree is not only the ability to install more batteries, but the role these batteries can play in stabilising both the energy system and prices. If we can deploy storage solutions at scale and with agility, we will be able to better manage renewable generation, reduce price spikes and crashes, and regain the confidence of investors and developers.

It is clear that we have lost too much time. But this decree may be a last opportunity to change course. We need procedures to be genuinely streamlined, regulations to be coherent rather than conflicting, and the Government of Catalonia not just to pass legislation, but to allocate resources to implement it effectively on the ground. It must also show firm leadership in the face of local resistance, which is often based on misinformation or minority interests lacking solidarity.

Renewable energy can be a success story in Catalonia. We have sunshine, wind, talent, and industrial capacity. But we also need vision, determination, and a public administration aligned with climate goals. Decree Law 12/2025 is a step in the right direction. Now it’s time to act — and act fast.