The State of Collective Residential Self-Consumption in 2025
Collective self-consumption in residential communities represents one of the greatest opportunities for the energy transition in Spain, as more than 67% of the population resides in buildings with potential for this type of installation. However, its deployment has been slower than expected. Although the residential sector has maintained a more constant installation rate than the industrial sector, it has experienced a general slowdown in 2025.
While the adoption of collective self-consumption is still low (less than 1% of installations in Spain are collective), recent regulatory measures and increased awareness are expected to boost its growth.
Key Benefits for Residential Communities
Shared self-consumption installations offer multiple advantages for residents and the community as a whole:
Financial Savings
Greater Efficiency
Energy for Common Areas
Energy Independence and Sustainability
Property Revaluation
Regulatory Framework and Aid
The current legal framework is evolving to facilitate collective self-consumption. Real Decreto-ley 7/2025 is an important step in this direction, as it introduces measures to simplify administrative procedures and speed up processes.
Administrative Simplification:
Subsidies and Aid
Tax Benefits
Note on Legislation: Please remember that the Real Decreto-ley 7/2025 is currently repealed as it was not ratified by Congress. Therefore, the applicable law has reverted to previous regulations, such as the Real Decreto-ley 23/2020, until the government approves a new decree or bill to reincorporate or adapt the necessary measures for reinforcing the electrical system.
Main Challenges and Barriers
Despite the benefits, the deployment of shared self-consumption in the residential sector faces significant challenges:
Issues with Distributors
Complexity in Agreements
Coordination and Management
Unequal Profitability
In conclusion, collective self-consumption in Spain has enormous potential to democratize solar energy and accelerate the energy transition in cities. Regulatory improvements and economic aid are creating a more favorable framework, but overcoming administrative and coordination challenges is essential to unlock its full potential.
Viability and Norms on Usable Roofs
Installing photovoltaic panels on usable roofs (or terraces/flat roofs) of residential buildings is an increasingly popular option in Spain, as it allows for the utilization of common space that is often underutilized. Technical viability depends on several factors:
Structural Integrity
Waterproofing
Absence of Asbestos
From a legal perspective, the Horizontal Property Law establishes that the installation of collective self-consumption systems requires the approval of the community of neighbors. The agreement must be supported by at least one-third of the owners who, in turn, represent one-third of the participation quotas.
Specific Benefits and Challenges of Usable Roofs
In addition to the general benefits of collective self-consumption (savings, sustainability, and property revaluation), installations on usable roofs have their own advantages and challenges.
Experts in Photovoltaic Structures for Large Roofs
In a world moving toward sustainability, your solar energy project needs a solid foundation. At Atreydes Engineering, we are engineers specialized in the design and manufacture of structures for photovoltaic installations, both residential and industrial.
Our specialty is projects on buildings for collective use. We have perfected a structural system that maximizes roof space and safety, without compromising its integrity.
Innovative Solutions Without Drilling Your Roof
Unlike traditional systems, our structures are strategically mounted on walls and parapets. This allows us to ensure a robust and stable installation without the need to pierce the roof surface, completely eliminating the risk of leaks and guaranteeing the conventional use of the roof.
Precision Engineering to Comply with Regulations
Every project is unique and requires maximum precision. That is why our engineers design each structure rigorously complying with the Technical Building Code (CTE). This meticulous approach ensures that your installation complies with all state, regional, and local regulations, facilitating the obtaining of the municipal license.
Comprehensive Service, from Concept to Construction
We are your partners every step of the way. We offer a turnkey service that covers the entire process so you don’t have to worry about a thing:
- Design: Creation of an optimized and secure structure for your project.
- Manufacturing: Production of high-quality components in our facilities.
- Assembly: Professional execution of the installation, guaranteeing maximum safety.
- Construction Management: Management and supervision to ensure the success of the project.
At Atreydes Engineering, we are committed to excellence. Trust us to turn your vision of solar energy into an efficient and safe reality.
Why Is Our Solution the Safest and Most Efficient?
Residential communities often seek to maintain the use of their roofs, such as transit areas or communal clotheslines. This makes installations directly on the roof unviable, as the panels occupy space previously used for other purposes.
Our structures are designed to be fixed to consistent construction elements such as parapets and walls, avoiding anchors on the roof itself. In this way, we eliminate the risk of:
- Water Leaks: By not perforating the surface, the continuity of the waterproofing membranes is maintained.
- Wind Collapse: We avoid ballast systems on the paving, which can be insufficient and cause the structure to collapse due to wind uplift forces.
We do not recommend installations on clothesline structures, as they are not designed to withstand the loads of a photovoltaic installation.
No recomendamos instalaciones sobre estructuras de tendederos, ya que estas no están diseñadas para soportar las cargas de una instalación fotovoltaica.
Brick as a Resistant Element
We understand that brick walls, often used as anchors, are discontinuous elements. Therefore, at Atreydes Engineering, we use anchoring components from market-leading companies, increasing safety coefficients to guarantee maximum reliability.
The Cost of Safety
The structure for a clear, accessible roof has a price that ranges between €0.4 and €0.5 per peak watt installed. This is approximately half the total cost of the installation. While it is a significant investment, it is essential to guarantee the safety, regulatory compliance, and durability of your project.
The structure is not just another component; it is the foundation that determines whether an installation is possible or not, as “paper holds everything.” At Atreydes Ingeniería, our experience and precision ensure that the mechanical part of the system is the most solid, allowing your community to enjoy solar energy safely and without risks.
Contact us and discover why we are the experts your community needs for a smarter and safer energy future.