Introduction
The Municipality of Silleda is in the Deza region, 60 km from the capital. It has a population of 8,860 and covers 169 square kilometres. It is a sparsely populated area, according to the Galician Institute of Statistics.
It is part of Terras de Pontevedra Norte Rural Development Group (RDG16).
Population and demographic structure
The population of Silleda has been in decline since 2012, with a 11.6% decrease. However, there has been greater stability in the number of inhabitants in the same period.
The Total Dependency Ratio (TDR) in Silleda was 63% in 1998. It decreased by 57% until 2013. The population increased to 66% until 2022. Despite being a rural municipality, the population pyramid did not show a significant imbalance between the lower and upper parts. The average age of the inhabitants in 2022 was 48 years. The average age of women was higher than that of men, at 50 years for women and 46 years for men.
Population dynamics in Silleda.
Evolution of the total dependency ratio of Silleda, Pontevedra and Galicia.
Economy
The evolution of Gross Disposable Product (GDP) at the provincial and regional level showed a different evolutionary dynamic. Between 2012 and 2014, the municipality experienced a slight growth, followed by a temporary drop until 2016 and an increase in 2018.
The Gross Disposable Income (GDI) showed an increase of 21% until 2007, reaching 16,000 euros per inhabitant. From 2014 to 2020, the figure fell to 10%. The pandemic resulted in a loss of -1.23%, reducing income per capita to 13,800 euros.
Using the history of social security affiliations as an estimate of municipal employment, affiliations increased by 6.4%. By sector, the primary sector experienced a 17% reduction, the secondary sector a 3.2% reduction, and the tertiary sector an 14.5% increase.
The activity rate in 2022 was 76%. The employment rate is over 69%, much higher than in Galicia and Pontevedra. The unemployment rate started at 14% in 2011 and continues to fall to 7.8%.
Evolution of Gross Disposable Income per inhabitant in Silleda, Pontevedra and Galicia.
Evolution of employment, unemployment, and activity rates in the municipality of Silleda.
Energy resources
Silleda is distinguished by its extensive use of renewable energy sources, with a notable wind power capacity of nearly 18 MWh. This is distributed across 13 wind turbines, which collectively generated 45,226.5 MWh of energy during 2022. Furthermore, the municipality has an important distribution of photovoltaic solar energy, with a capacity of 3KW, as well as an approximate endowment of 3.5 MW of hydraulic power, which allowed an estimated production of 9,000 MWh.
The estimated electricity consumption in Silleda in 2023 was 3,696.71 MWh. The residential sector consumed 2,239.1 MWh of electricity. The utility consumption, including municipal services, was 629.18 MWh. The industrial sector consumed 828.42 MWh.
Energy Policy Councils
Date of the first meeting:
25th MArchl 2024
Number of participants:
31 people
Profile of participants:
- Staff of the municipality of Silleda: mayoress
- EC4RURAL project staff: UVIGO, ESPAZOCOOP, FEGAMP
- Citizens
Evaluation of the energy situation
The mayoress presented the municipal policy on energy transition and the projects in which Silleda is involved. It also shows its interest in joining the EC4RURAL project, which will provide all the municipal roofs and other infrastructures necessary for the development of this project to the collective initiatives.
Dialogue between the parties
During the meeting, an open dialogue was held between citizens and the municipality on the production of photovoltaic energy, with an emphasis on the opportunities offered by the existence of natural and human resources in Silleda for the development of energy communities.
The participants made several interventions aimed at highlighting the need to advance in the level of local energy autonomy. The great opportunity of having a local distributor who could be an ally in the community initiatives to be developed was expressed.
The mayoress intervened to underline that the distributor was investing large sums of money in a new transformation centre.
It is necessary to point out the concern for the protection of the heritage in the development of photovoltaic installations. The project will be studied on a case-by-case basis so as not to affect municipalities with a higher level of protection.
Conclusions
After the joint co-creative process, the first contact with the neighbourhood and local authorities have been positive. There is a real interest in the development of the rural energy community as they think about joint action and the benefits of making it happen.
As a final conclusion of this meeting, the Energy Policy Council has been created.
