Spain’s government has published a new climate plan that targets a 100% renewable energy electricity system by 2050, with goals that outstrip those adopted by the EU and a ban on new gas and oil exploration.

In its draft law presented on Tuesday (13 November), Spain’s socialist government outlines its plans for 2030 and 2050, as EU countries put pen to paper on national climate strategies, legally required by Brussels, according to Euractiv.com.

The main goal will see Spain, Europe’s fifth largest economy, source 70% of its electricity from renewables by 2030 ahead of relying 100% on wind, solar, hydropower et al by the turn of mid-century.

Industry association SolarPower Europe’s James Watson said “it is exciting to see Spain setting the pace in its commitment to a 100% renewable powered future”, adding that it confirms that “it is possible to power large economies by renewables in the near future”.

In 2016, the International Energy Agency reported that Spain’s electricity demands are already met mostly by renewable sources, which as a whole make up 23%, closely followed by nuclear power, which provides just over 20%.

Greening the electricity sector also means that Spain will aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2030 and as much as 90% by 2050. Current levels are 17% over the baseline 1990 levels, so that actually translates into a 37% cut by 2020.

The draft law also mentions a low emissions 2050 strategy that should chart the Iberian nation’s way towards a carbon neutral economy.