Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of June 1, 2026, Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| Official State Gazette Publication | June 26, 2026 |
| Effective date | June 1, 2026 |
| Promoter | Enel Green Power España, SL |
| Authorized installation | Photovoltaic solar module «Santa María» — 65,303 MW |
| Cancelled module | Wind module «La Plana» — 86.8 MW (withdrawal accepted) |
| Affected municipalities | La Puebla de Híjar, Jatiel, Castelnou, Híjar, Samper de Calanda, Alcañiz and Alcorisa (Teruel) |
| Category | Energy / Renewables |
| Year | 2026 |
Enel Green Power España has received the green light from the Ministry to build the «Santa María» photovoltaic solar plant in southern Aragón. The Resolution of June 1, 2026 from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines grants prior administrative authorization for an installation of 65,303 MW of installed capacity, distributed across seven municipalities in the province of Teruel.
The project arrives with a relevant change compared to the initial approach: the «La Plana» wind module, which would contribute an additional 86.8 MW, is excluded following acceptance of the promoter's withdrawal. The «HB2-La Plana» complex thus transitions from being a hybrid solar-wind project to an exclusively photovoltaic installation.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution grants prior administrative authorization —the first formal step in the authorization process for large energy installations— for the «Santa María» photovoltaic solar module and its associated evacuation infrastructure. This infrastructure includes electrical substations and high-voltage lines operating at 220 and 400 kV.
The processing has been joint with six other renewable projects located in the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza, reflecting the Ministry's strategy to expedite grouped processing of files in the same geographic area.
The bodies that have issued reports during the file are the following:
- AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency)
- Ebro River Basin Authority
- ADIF (Railway Infrastructure Administrator)
- Councils of the seven affected municipalities
The promoter must comply with the technical conditions established by each of these bodies. One of the most delicate points of the file was urban compatibility in Alcañiz, which was initially questioned and ultimately resolved favorably.
The acceptance of the withdrawal of the «La Plana» wind module (86.8 MW) means that this capacity is definitively excluded from the project. This is not a temporary suspension: the promoter has formally renounced that part of the file.
Economic and operational impact
The authorization of 65,303 MW of photovoltaic solar energy in Teruel has direct implications in several areas:
- For Enel Green Power España: Obtaining prior administrative authorization unlocks the following project phases (administrative authorization for construction and commissioning certificate). Without this step, investment cannot advance.
- For affected municipalities: The installation generates urban and technical coordination obligations, plus potential income from agreements with the promoter and from the special characteristics real estate tax (BICES).
- For the electrical system: The cancellation of the 86.8 MW wind module means that the net renewable capacity that the «HB2-La Plana» complex will provide is significantly reduced compared to the original project.
- For renewable sector companies: Joint processing with six other projects in Teruel and Zaragoza is an indicator of the pace of file resolution in this area, relevant for those with pending projects in the same area.
Who does it affect?
- Enel Green Power España, SL: Direct promoter. Must comply with all technical conditions imposed by the consulted bodies before advancing to the next authorization phase.
- Councils of La Puebla de Híjar, Jatiel, Castelnou, Híjar, Samper de Calanda, Alcañiz and Alcorisa: Affected by land occupation, easements and urban coordination.
- Renewable sector companies with projects in Teruel and Zaragoza: The joint resolution of seven files sets the pace and criteria being applied in the area.
- Network operators and engineering companies: Evacuation infrastructure at 220 and 400 kV requires coordination with Red Eléctrica and specialized contractors.
- Investors in renewable assets in Aragón: The resolution confirms the regulatory viability of the location, relevant data for due diligence and asset valuations.
Practical example
A renewable energy promoter who has a photovoltaic project pending authorization in the same geographic area (Teruel or Zaragoza) can draw several practical conclusions from this resolution:
- Urban compatibility in Alcañiz was questioned during processing and ultimately resolved favorably: if your project includes land in that municipality, the precedent is positive but the process may be prolonged.
- Joint processing of seven files in the same area indicates that the Ministry groups resolutions by area. If your project is in the instruction phase in Teruel or Zaragoza, it may be linked to a forthcoming joint resolution.
- The withdrawal of the 86.8 MW wind module shows that it is possible —and sometimes strategic— to renounce part of a hybrid project to unlock authorization for the photovoltaic part, which usually has faster processing.
What should companies do now?
- If you are Enel Green Power España or its legal team: Review in detail the technical conditions imposed by AESA, the Ebro River Basin Authority, ADIF and the councils. Non-compliance with any of them may block the next authorization phase.
- If you are a council in one of the seven affected municipalities: Verify that urban agreements and easements are properly documented. The Alcañiz case —where compatibility was initially questioned— is a warning that local coordination is critical.
- If you have renewable projects in Teruel or Zaragoza: Analyze this resolution to understand the technical and urban criteria the Ministry is applying in the area. It may anticipate requirements for your own file.
- If you are an investor or conduct due diligence on renewable assets in Aragón: The resolution confirms the regulatory viability of the «Santa María» location. Incorporate this milestone into the asset risk analysis.
- If you have a hybrid solar-wind project in processing: Evaluate whether withdrawal of the wind module (as Enel has done in this case) can accelerate authorization of the photovoltaic part.
Frequently asked questions
What is prior administrative authorization and what does it imply for Enel's solar project in Teruel?
Prior administrative authorization is the first mandatory formal step for installing large energy infrastructure in Spain. Its obtaining does not allow construction to begin, but unlocks the following phases: administrative authorization for construction and, subsequently, the commissioning certificate. In this case, Enel Green Power España has obtained it for the «Santa María» solar module of 65,303 MW across seven municipalities in Teruel.
Why has the «La Plana» wind module of 86.8 MW been cancelled?
The promoter, Enel Green Power España, submitted a formal withdrawal of the authorization request for the 86.8 MW «La Plana» wind module. The resolution accepts that withdrawal. This is not a denial by the Ministry, but a voluntary renunciation by the promoter, which reduces the «HB2-La Plana» project to its exclusively photovoltaic component.
Which municipalities in Teruel are affected by the «Santa María» solar plant?
The seven affected municipalities are: La Puebla de Híjar, Jatiel, Castelnou, Híjar, Samper de Calanda, Alcañiz and Alcorisa, all in the province of Teruel.
What bodies have issued reports in the file and what conditions does each impose?
The consulted bodies have been AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency), the Ebro River Basin Authority, ADIF and the councils of the affected municipalities. Each has established specific technical conditions that the promoter must comply with. The resolution does not publicly detail the exact content of each condition, but compliance is mandatory to advance in the authorization process.
When does this resolution take effect and what is the next step for the project?
The resolution is dated June 1, 2026 and was published in the Official State Gazette on June 26, 2026. The next step for Enel Green Power España is to request administrative authorization for construction, previously complying with all technical conditions imposed by the bodies consulted during the file instruction.
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-2026-13933