The recent Europe-wide energy crisis has brought the need for fossil fuel alternatives into sharp focus.

In Spain, the push for renewable energy was already well underway, the 2030 Green Agenda has seen the government pledge to reach ambitious targets.

In 2006, China's Yingli Solar was one of the first international companies to enter the Spanish market.

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The company has faced stiff competition for market share, from international manufacturers as well as other Chinese companies such as CHINT and Suntech Power.

Yingli has tried to position itself as the market leader in terms of quality and has chosen the Spanish capital as its European headquarters.

"We are right in the middle of one of the biggest markets in the world - that is Europe. And also, because of the language, we are close to the Latin American market which is also huge," Luis Contreras, Managing Director of Yingli in Europe and South America, told CGTN Europe. 

"Looking at Spain as a consumer of energy, it's very good, because of the weather, because of the conditions that we have in Spain. Spain can become a very important energy producer in terms of renewable energy and solar production."

Accessible to everyone

Solar power is one of the fastest growing industries in the energy sector.

Back in 2021, the Global solar power market was worth close to $185 billion, experts forecast that figure to rise to around $300 billion by 2028.

Many experts believe that to fully unlock the potential of solar power, it must be accessible to everyone, not just to big corporations or large plants.

A huge increase in production and changes in technology, particularly within longer battery life and solar cell efficiency, mean that individual houses and small businesses can now get involved.

Contreras said solar power had become more affordable to the ordinary man in the street.

"We are living in a very competitive market, so now a family in his house can find a system for around $5,000 to $6,000, to have a full system to supply energy," he said.

In the next decade or so, Spain plans to double this sector, so that solar power will account for more than 20 percent of the country's energy mix. 

It wants all of its energy output to be 100 percent renewable by 2050.

The industry's rapid growth proves that what is good for the environment can also be good for the economy.