39.6 MW Battery for Don Rodrigo II: Key Insights for the Solar Sector in Seville

Key data

Urso Solar, SLU has just obtained prior administrative authorization and construction administrative authorization for a battery storage module of 39.6 MW intended to be hybridized with its Don Rodrigo II photovoltaic solar park, already operational with 45.6 MW of installed capacity in Utrera (Seville). The resolution, signed on July 31, 2026 and published in the BOE on August 19, is one of the first cases resolved under the simplified procedure introduced by RD 997/2025.

The most relevant fact for the sector is not just the authorization itself, but the procedural route used: RD 997/2025 allows storage hybridizations under certain circumstances to be exempt from environmental assessment, which significantly accelerates timelines. No consulted administration presented opposition and no objections were received during the public information period.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants two simultaneous authorizations to Urso Solar, SLU:

• Prior administrative authorization: recognizes the viability of the project and enables the developer to advance in technical and construction development.
• Construction administrative authorization: allows physical initiation of works on the storage module and its associated evacuation infrastructure.

The authorized evacuation infrastructure includes the following elements:

The simplified procedure of RD 997/2025 is the key to this case. This regulation establishes that storage hybridizations by batteries in existing renewable installations can be exempt from environmental impact assessment when certain conditions are met, eliminating one of the most common bottlenecks in processing energy projects in Spain.

Economic and operational impact

Photovoltaic-battery hybridization has a direct economic impact on plant operation:

• Dispatch flexibility: the battery allows storing energy generated during low demand or low price hours and selling it during peak hours, improving park revenues.
• System adjustment services: hybridized installations can participate in balance and regulation service markets, opening new revenue sources.
• Use of existing infrastructure: by reusing the evacuation network up to Don Rodrigo 400 kV, Urso Solar avoids the cost of building new connection infrastructure, significantly reducing the total project investment.
• Reduction of administrative timelines: the application of RD 997/2025 eliminates environmental assessment, which can mean savings of months or years in processing compared to the ordinary procedure.

For the renewable sector as a whole in Andalusia, this case consolidates the hybridization model as the preferred route to increase storage capacity without needing to develop new grid connection points.

Who does it affect?

• Urso Solar, SLU: developer company directly authorized by this resolution.
• Developers of existing photovoltaic solar parks evaluating adding battery storage to their installations.
• Investors and energy infrastructure funds with renewable assets in Spain, especially in Andalusia.
• Legal and technical advisors processing energy storage authorizations under RD 997/2025.
• Electrical system operators interested in the flexibility and adjustment services provided by these installations.
• Battery and energy storage sector companies supplying technology for hybridization projects in Spain.

Practical example

A solar developer with a photovoltaic park of similar capacity to Don Rodrigo II (around 45 MW) wanting to add a battery module of approximately 40 MW can follow exactly the same path as Urso Solar:

1. Verify that your project meets the assumptions of RD 997/2025 to access the simplified procedure and be exempt from environmental assessment.
2. Design the evacuation infrastructure using the park's existing connection (in this case, underground lines at 30 kV and the sectioning center linked to the already operational substation).
3. Submit the application for prior administrative authorization and construction authorization simultaneously to the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines.
4. If the project meets the requirements, you can obtain both authorizations in a single administrative act, as happened with Don Rodrigo II, without objections or opposition from consulted administrations.

The result: a hybridized installation combining solar generation and storage with notably more agile administrative processing than the ordinary route.

What should companies do now?

1. Review if you have an existing solar park susceptible to hybridization: analyze if your operational photovoltaic installation meets the assumptions of RD 997/2025 to access the simplified storage procedure.
2. Evaluate available evacuation infrastructure: check if you can reuse the existing grid connection (as Urso Solar did with the Marchamorón substation and Don Rodrigo 400 kV) to reduce investment costs.
3. Consult with advisors specialized in energy processing: the environmental assessment exemption of RD 997/2025 has specific conditions; verify that your project meets them before initiating the case.
4. Explore adjustment service markets: once the installation is hybridized, analyze participation in balance and regulation markets to maximize asset revenues.
5. Monitor similar new resolutions: this case sets precedent for future hybridization projects in Spain; tracking cases published in the BOE allows anticipating administrative criteria.

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-2026-17939