New 400 kV power line Gipuzkoa-Navarra: what it means for companies and landowners in 2026

Key data

Landowners in the Itxaso-Castejón/Muruarte corridor face a real possibility of forced expropriation from today. The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has granted Red Eléctrica de España, SAU both prior administrative authorization and administrative construction authorization for this infrastructure, and has expressly declared its public utility. That declaration is the legal key that enables expropriation.

The resolution, published in the BOE on July 30, 2026 with reference BOE-A-2026-16635, ends a process in which several Navarrese municipalities filed objections on environmental grounds. Those objections were resolved through environmental impact assessment, so the project proceeds without suspension.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants Red Eléctrica de España three authorizations in a single administrative act:

• Prior administrative authorization: confirms that the project is viable from the perspective of national energy planning.
• Administrative construction authorization: allows physically beginning construction of the 400 kV double-circuit overhead line.
• Declaration of public utility: enables Red Eléctrica to exercise forced expropriation, impose easements, and request temporary occupation of the land necessary for the route.

Along with the construction of the new infrastructure, the resolution requires the dismantling of the existing 220 kV lines Itxaso-Orcoyen 1 and Itxaso-Orcoyen 2, which will be replaced by the new higher-capacity line.

Red Eléctrica must comply with the technical conditions imposed by the following agencies:

From an environmental perspective, the Navarrese municipalities that opposed the project saw their objections dismissed after the environmental impact assessment process. The project continues without route modifications resulting from those oppositions.

Economic and operational impact

For Red Eléctrica de España, this resolution means final green light to execute an investment in electrical transport infrastructure in the northern peninsula. The new 400 kV double-circuit line doubles the transport capacity compared to the two 220 kV lines it replaces, strengthening the integration of renewable energy into the grid.

For affected landowners in Gipuzkoa and Navarra, the impact is direct and immediate: the declaration of public utility activates the expropriation procedure. This means Red Eléctrica can:

• Initiate forced expropriation proceedings on route properties.
• Impose permanent easements of passage over private land.
• Request temporary occupation during the construction phase.

Landowners have the right to negotiate the fair value (compensation) and to challenge the valuation if they disagree, but they cannot block the project's execution once public utility has been declared.

For Navarrese municipalities that filed objections, the resolution closes the ordinary administrative route. Only contentious-administrative appeal routes remain open.

Who does it affect?

• Red Eléctrica de España, SAU: authorization holder, responsible for construction and dismantling of the 220 kV lines.
• Landowners of properties in the Itxaso-Castejón/Muruarte route (Gipuzkoa and Navarra): subject to forced expropriation, easements, or temporary occupation.
• Navarrese municipalities with territory in the route: their environmental objections were resolved; they can appeal through contentious-administrative proceedings.
• Companies with facilities near the route (gas pipelines, railway lines, aeronautical infrastructure, watercourses): must coordinate with Red Eléctrica compliance with technical conditions from Enagás, ADIF, AESA, and river basin authorities.
• Renewable energy developers in the northern peninsula: the new line expands energy evacuation capacity in the area, which may facilitate connection of new projects.

Practical example

A farmer or rancher who owns a property in the municipality of Itxaso (Gipuzkoa) or in the corridor toward Castejón (Navarra) whose land falls within the approved route will receive a notification from Red Eléctrica de España initiating the forced expropriation proceeding.

At that point, the landowner can:

1. Accept the fair value offered by Red Eléctrica if they consider it reflects the real value of the land and damages.
2. Negotiate a friendly agreement before the proceeding reaches the Provincial Expropriation Board, which usually speeds up payment.
3. Challenge the valuation before the Provincial Expropriation Board if the offered fair value is insufficient, with possibility of subsequent appeal to contentious-administrative jurisdiction.

What the landowner cannot do is prevent the project's execution: the declaration of public utility granted by this resolution eliminates that possibility through ordinary administrative channels.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you have land in the route: check the official route of the Itxaso-Castejón/Muruarte line in the resolution published in the BOE-A-2026-16635 to know if your properties are affected.
2. Get legal advice immediately: if you receive an expropriation notice, hire a lawyer specialized in forced expropriation before accepting any fair value. Appeal deadlines are short.
3. Document the land's value: gather appraisals, deeds, agricultural or industrial yields, and any data that justifies a higher fair value than offered.
4. Coordinate with Red Eléctrica if you have nearby infrastructure: if you manage gas pipelines, railway lines, aerodromes, or watercourses in the area, contact Red Eléctrica to coordinate compliance with technical conditions imposed by Enagás, ADIF, AESA, and river basin authorities.
5. Evaluate opportunities if you're a renewable developer: the new 400 kV line expands evacuation capacity in the northern peninsula; analyze whether your project can benefit from the greater available transport capacity.
6. Municipalities: consider contentious-administrative appeal: Navarrese municipalities that opposed have the administrative route closed, but can file contentious-administrative appeal if they believe the environmental impact assessment was insufficient.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16635