Blessed with some of Europe’s sunniest skies, Spain has rapidly expanded its solar capacity and now ranks among the continent’s renewable-energy leaders.

Sun-powered growth

Vast solar farms across the Iberian plains, combined with rooftop installations in cities, have driven down electricity costs and cut emissions.

The boom has attracted international investment and created thousands of green jobs, particularly in rural areas that had long struggled with depopulation.

The next challenge

Storing and distributing all that midday sunshine — so it can power homes after dark — is now the focus of Spain’s energy planners.