Neither the Spanish government nor European institutions have committed to Musk’s ideas as an official strategy. Photo credit: Joke van Eeghem/Shutterstock
Elon Musk has proposed turning the sparsely populated region of España Bashiada, often referred to as “Spain in the Sky,” into Europe’s main source of renewable electricity through large-scale solar power generation. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX said sparsely populated areas such as rural Spain and parts of Sicily could be home to solar farms capable of generating the continent’s electricity needs.
Musk made the comments during a wide-ranging conversation.
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock, a global investment firm, he focuses on energy, technology and future economic trends. He said the technology needed to build such large-scale solar farms already exists and what is needed now is the political will and investment to deploy it.
Musk said relatively sparsely populated regions such as parts of Spain and Sicily could generate all the electricity Europe needs, suggesting Europe’s energy security could be strengthened by harnessing the geographical advantage and solar power potential of areas with abundant sunlight and available land.
The potential of solar power generation and a broader energy perspective
Musk cited examples from overseas to emphasize his point. He noted that China already operates solar power plants producing hundreds of gigawatts a year, showing that the infrastructure and capacity is within reach. He said similar projects in rural Spain and Sicily, on a large scale, could provide enough electricity for Europe’s needs.
During the discussion, Musk also mentioned the potential for solar power development in parts of the United States, including Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico, suggesting that large tracts of desert and underutilized land around the world could support utility-scale solar power.
Energy experts say solar power is already a key element of Europe’s renewable energy mix, with countries such as Spain and Germany rapidly expanding capacity in recent years. But the idea of dedicating large tracts of rural land exclusively to continental power generation on the scale described by Musk has not yet been adopted as official policy by European governments.
Extensive comments on energy and technology at Davos
In addition to his remarks about solar power, Musk used the Davos platform to outline his broader views on technology and the future of the economy.
He argued that robots will become increasingly common, predicting that within a relatively short period of time there will be “more robots than humans.” Musk said Tesla’s humanoid robot, known as Optimus, is already performing menial tasks in the company’s factories and could be available for purchase by consumers in 2027.
Regarding artificial intelligence, Musk predicted that AI could reach human-level intelligence as early as late 2026 or 2027, and that around 2030 or 2031 there could be AI capable of surpassing human collective reasoning. He emphasized the importance of caution in the development of AI and robotics, warning against scenarios that resemble science fiction depictions of out-of-control machines.
Musk also criticized certain U.S. trade policies, particularly tariffs that raise the cost of importing solar cells from China, saying the move would undermine the widespread deployment of renewable energy technologies by increasing costs.
No formal approval has been received from Europe yet.
Officials in Spain and across Europe recognize the potential of renewable energy and the value of expanding solar infrastructure, but proposals to transform Basiada Spain into the continent’s energy hub remain a discrete vision rather than a coordinated policy.
Spain has national renewable energy ambitions, with an increasing share of solar and wind power in its electricity mix. However, large-scale cross-border energy projects require extensive regulatory, environmental, and economic planning before they can become reality.
So far, neither the Spanish government nor European institutions have committed to Musk’s ideas as an official strategy. Experts warn that deploying solar capacity at the levels described will require extensive land-use planning, grid upgrades and long-term financing frameworks.
This concept is linked to broader debates about Europe’s energy independence, sustainability goals and post-fossil fuel transition strategies. Although it remains unclear whether his vision will translate into concrete initiatives, his comments added momentum to the ongoing debate about the future of Europe’s energy infrastructure.
