The Spanish term autoconsumo colectivo means collective self-consumption. Several consumers associate their electricity supply points with shared generation and agree how much of the output is allocated to each of them. The installation owner and the consumers can be different people or entities.
In a building with a communal roof, this could mean one installation serving several apartments. If the roof is too small, shaded or unavailable, participation in a project on another property may be an option. This is where the increase in the permitted distance is particularly useful.
Royal Decree-law 7/2026 allows this route for solar PV or wind installations up to 5 MW, linked to consumers through the grid and located less than 5,000 metres away. Distance is measured horizontally between meters, not along the road. The decree-law was published on 21 March and ratified by Congress on 26 March 2026.
These changes are already in force; they are not a new reform approved in October. They should be distinguished from the broader draft that MITECO put out for consultation in 2025: closing a consultation does not, by itself, bring every proposal into force.
Living near a solar plant does not automatically make someone a participant. An agreement with the installation owner, a suitable connection arrangement and formal registration of participation are needed. The search therefore starts with a specific site and the possibility of using some of its output.
Where the shared grid is used, no dedicated cable runs from a participant’s notional share of the panels to their home. The calculation uses meter readings and agreed proportions of generation, known as allocation coefficients. These are recorded in an agreement between participants and sent to the distribution company, which operates the network and processes metering data. The electricity supplier uses the relevant figures when preparing the bill.
The chosen share affects the outcome for each apartment. What matters is how much energy is allocated during generating hours and how much the apartment uses at the same time. If allocated energy exceeds consumption, there is a surplus. Whether that surplus can be compensated, and on what terms, depends on the registered arrangement.
Under simplified surplus compensation, exported surplus is given a monetary value that reduces the cost of electricity purchased during the billing period, within the limits set by the rules. A kilowatt-hour produced during the day is not exchanged one-for-one for a free kilowatt-hour at night. A larger share of the installation is therefore not always the most beneficial.
Consider a hypothetical example. In a residential development near Dénia, some apartments are occupied all year and others only in summer. The development has a communal roof and residents are discussing a solar installation. With equal allocation, one apartment’s share may regularly coincide with air conditioning and appliance use, while another receives its allocation when it is empty. Equal shares will produce different results.
Before choosing equipment, the community should compare participants’ consumption with expected generation and consider several allocation options. It also needs to agree who pays for maintenance, how new participants join and what happens when an owner leaves the project. These terms will shape how straightforward the shared installation is to use in the years ahead.
The same reasoning applies to a business. A suitable site nearby makes participation possible; the benefit depends on how the allocated generation matches working hours. A shop with daytime demand and a restaurant operating mainly in the evening need different calculations.
A shared solar installation begins with an agreement on how it will be used. Once the site, participants and energy allocation are clear, equipment and participation costs can be discussed. The lack of a roof of your own should no longer end that conversation.