Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of June 25, 2026, from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 20, 2026 |
| Effective date | Not specified in the resolution |
| Authorized company | Heracles Solar, SLU |
| Battery capacity | 39.6 MW installed |
| Existing solar plant capacity | 46.2 MW installed |
| Location | Alcalá de Guadaíra (Seville) |
| Category | Energy / Renewable storage |
| Applicable regulatory framework | RD 997/2025 (simplified procedure, exemption from simplified environmental assessment) |
Heracles Solar, SLU now has prior administrative authorization and construction authorization for its "Heracles" battery storage module of 39.6 MW in Alcalá de Guadaíra. The Resolution of June 25, 2026 from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines formalizes a project that will hybridize this battery system with the "Heracles" photovoltaic solar park, already operational with 46.2 MW of installed capacity in the same Seville location.
The project is covered by RD 997/2025, which establishes a simplified procedure and timeline for this type of installation and exempts them from simplified environmental assessment. No consulted administration presented opposition and no comments were received during the public information period, which accelerated the favorable resolution.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution grants two simultaneous authorizations to Heracles Solar, SLU:
- Prior administrative authorization: enables the project to advance in its development.
- Administrative construction authorization: allows the start of works on the battery module and its evacuation infrastructure.
The authorized technical elements are as follows:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Storage module | "Heracles" batteries, 39.6 MW installed capacity |
| Evacuation voltage | 30 kV through underground lines |
| Connection infrastructure | Sectioning center connected to the Marchamorón 30/220 kV substation |
| Connection to transmission network | Use of existing infrastructure up to Don Rodrigo 400 kV |
| Hybridized solar plant | "Heracles" photovoltaic park, 46.2 MW, already existing and operational |
The key to the procedure is RD 997/2025: this royal decree allows processing storage projects hybridized with existing renewable installations in a simplified manner, without the need for simplified environmental assessment. This significantly reduces administrative timelines compared to conventional greenfield projects.
Economic and operational impact
For Heracles Solar, SLU, hybridization represents a qualitative leap in managing its photovoltaic asset. A battery system of 39.6 MW allows shifting energy generated during low demand or low price hours to time slots of higher value, improving the average revenue per MWh generated.
From the perspective of the electrical system, the incorporation of storage contributes to grid stability in Andalusia, a region with high renewable penetration and growing need for flexibility. The use of the Marchamorón 30/220 kV substation and existing evacuation infrastructure up to Don Rodrigo 400 kV eliminates the need for new high-voltage lines, reducing investment costs and execution timelines.
For the renewable sector in general, this resolution is a reference: it demonstrates that the RD 997/2025 procedure works in practice and that solar-battery hybridization projects can obtain authorization without administrative opposition or citizen comments, as long as they rely on already existing infrastructure.
Who does it affect?
- Heracles Solar, SLU: directly authorized company, which must execute the project in accordance with the terms of the resolution.
- Developers of photovoltaic solar plants in Andalusia studying the addition of storage to existing installations: this resolution marks the procedural path.
- Developers of energy storage projects wishing to use RD 997/2025 for simplified processing.
- Investors and renewable infrastructure funds with photovoltaic assets in Spain, especially in the southern peninsula.
- Network operators and managers of the Marchamorón 30/220 kV substation and the Don Rodrigo 400 kV node, who must coordinate the connection.
- Energy advisors and consultants accompanying clients in hybridization processes or expansion of renewable installations.
Practical example
Imagine a development company that has an operational solar plant of 46.2 MW in Andalusia, like the "Heracles" park. During central hours of the day, the plant generates energy at low prices due to excess renewable supply in the market. Without storage, that energy is sold at reduced price or even spilled.
With the 39.6 MW authorized battery, the company can charge the system during those low-price hours and discharge during evening or night time slots, when the wholesale market price is higher. The result is better utilization of the existing asset without the need to build new evacuation infrastructure, since the resolution allows using the Marchamorón 30/220 kV substation and lines up to Don Rodrigo 400 kV already installed.
Additionally, by processing under RD 997/2025, the developer avoids the ordinary simplified environmental assessment procedure, which can save several months in the authorization calendar.
What should companies do now?
- If you are a developer with an existing solar plant in Andalusia: analyze whether your installation meets the requirements of RD 997/2025 to process storage through the simplified route. This resolution confirms that the procedure is viable and agile.
- Verify available evacuation capacity at the substation to which you are connected. The use of existing infrastructure, as Heracles Solar did with Marchamorón and Don Rodrigo, is key to reducing costs and timelines.
- Prepare the technical documentation of the storage module in advance: installed capacity, evacuation voltage, sectioning center and connection to transmission network are the elements that the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines reviews in detail.
- Coordinate with consulted administrations before initiating the formal procedure. The absence of opposition in this case was decisive for the speed of the resolution.
- If you are an investor or fund with photovoltaic assets in Spain: evaluate the hybridization potential of your portfolio. The solar + battery combination improves the income profile and asset valuation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hybridization of a solar plant with batteries and what advantages does it have?
Hybridization consists of adding a battery storage module to an already existing photovoltaic park. In the case of Heracles Solar, 39.6 MW of batteries are added to a park of 46.2 MW. The main advantage is being able to store energy during low-price hours and sell it when the market pays more, improving asset profitability without the need for new evacuation infrastructure.
What advantages does RD 997/2025 offer for storage projects?
RD 997/2025 applies a simplified procedure and timeline for storage projects hybridized with existing renewable installations, and exempts them from simplified environmental assessment. This significantly reduces processing time compared to the ordinary procedure, as demonstrated by Heracles Solar's favorable resolution without opposition from any consulted administration.
How is energy from the "Heracles" battery module evacuated?
Evacuation is carried out through underground lines at 30 kV and a sectioning center connected to the Marchamorón 30/220 kV substation. From there, existing infrastructure is used up to the transmission network at the Don Rodrigo 400 kV node, avoiding the construction of new high-voltage lines.
What authorizations has Heracles Solar, SLU exactly obtained?
The Resolution of June 25, 2026 grants two authorizations: the prior administrative authorization and the administrative construction authorization of the "Heracles" battery storage module of 39.6 MW, as well as its evacuation infrastructure, for its hybridization with the "Heracles" photovoltaic solar park of 46.2 MW in Alcalá de Guadaíra (Seville).
Were there comments or opposition to the project during its processing?
No. According to the resolution published on July 20, 2026, no consulted administration presented opposition to the project and no comments were received during the public information period. This result facilitated the favorable resolution within the simplified timelines provided by RD 997/2025.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Disclaimer: 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-2026-15834