WWF Spain organised the first National Task Force meeting of the LIFE REALS project in Spain on 22 September 2026 in Madrid. The meeting brought together 21 representatives and experts from public authorities, the renewable energy sector, environmental organisations, trade unions and institutions working on territorial information, energy planning and permitting.
The first part of the meeting focused on the preliminary GIS analysis to identify artificial land surfaces (ALS) and assess their potential for solar PV and wind energy. Participants reviewed the methodology, data sources and criteria used and provided technical feedback to improve the analysis. Among the main issues discussed were the criteria used to estimate wind potential, the availability of updated environmental data and the importance of considering grid access and connection capacity when assessing the actual feasibility of potential sites.
The second part of the meeting focused on the legal and administrative barriers affecting renewable energy deployment on artificial land surfaces. Participants worked in three rotating groups to review the barriers identified by the project, highlight additional challenges and discuss possible solutions and good practices. The discussions showed that each type of artificial surface – including industrial areas, mining sites, landfills, irrigation infrastructure and transport infrastructure – presents different regulatory, technical and operational challenges.
A key message from the meeting was that identifying suitable land is only the first step. Grid availability, technical and economic feasibility, existing land uses, environmental considerations, sector-specific regulations and social acceptance all influence whether renewable projects can actually be developed. Participants also stressed the importance of considering cumulative impacts when promoting renewable energy deployment in already transformed or degraded areas.
The contributions gathered during the National Task Force are already informing the next stages of LIFE REALS in Spain. The GIS team will review selected criteria and additional datasets, while the legal and administrative barriers assessment has been updated based on participants’ feedback. The project will also further explore how its mapping results could contribute to the identification of Renewables Acceleration Areas in Spain.
The meeting was very positively received, and attendees expressed their willingness to take part in future meetings. Following the event, participants received a summary of the discussions and conclusions, and bilateral meetings with key stakeholders are being organised to further explore specific issues.
WWF Spain thanks all participants for their active involvement and valuable contributions to the LIFE REALS project.
