Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 31, 2026, from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | August 21, 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified in the resolution |
| Promoter | Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL |
| Project | Storage module "Hybridization Covatillas 3" |
| Battery capacity | 43.90 MW installed |
| Associated solar park | Covatillas 3 — 48.118 MW installed |
| Location | Castillejo de Iniesta (Cuenca) |
| Regulatory framework | RD 997/2025 — simplified hybridization procedure |
| Category | Energy / Renewables |
| Year | 2026 |
A solar park that already generates electricity in Cuenca now adds 43.90 MW of battery storage capacity. The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has granted Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL the prior administrative authorization and the administrative construction authorization for the module called "Hybridization Covatillas 3", through Resolution of July 31, 2026 (published in the BOE on August 21, 2026, reference BOE-A-2026-18008).
What is relevant for the sector is not just this specific project: it is the route it uses. RD 997/2025 enables a simplified procedure that exempts storage hybridizations from environmental impact assessment under certain assumptions, drastically reducing processing times. This opens a very specific door for any promoter with an operating photovoltaic park who wants to add batteries.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution grants two simultaneous authorizations to promoter Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL:
- Prior administrative authorization: enables the project from the perspective of energy planning.
- Administrative construction authorization: allows the start of works on the battery module and its evacuation infrastructure.
The associated evacuation infrastructure includes the following technical elements:
- Underground lines at 30 kV to connect the battery module.
- Expansion of the El Monegrillo substation 132/30 kV.
- Use of the existing connection to the Minglanilla 400 kV node.
The promoter already had access and connection permits updated by Red Eléctrica de España, which has facilitated processing. The key to the procedure is compliance with RD 997/2025, which for storage hybridizations under certain assumptions eliminates the need for environmental impact assessment, significantly accelerating timelines compared to the ordinary procedure.
A relevant aspect for projects with shared infrastructure: the resolution establishes that, in the absence of an agreement between promoters, responsibility for shared infrastructure will be distributed proportionally to each promoter's access capacity. This criterion is applicable to any project in a similar situation.
Economic and operational impact
For the directly affected promoter, the authorization means being able to execute a project that substantially improves the profitability of the existing solar park: batteries allow storing energy during low-demand hours and releasing it during peak hours, optimizing electricity sales revenue.
For the sector as a whole, the most relevant operational impact is the confirmation of RD 997/2025 as a real and viable route for hybridizations. Until now, adding storage to an existing plant required a long and costly administrative process. The simplified procedure changes that equation:
- Eliminates environmental impact assessment in storage hybridization cases.
- Significantly reduces processing timelines.
- Allows leveraging already-granted access and connection permits.
- Facilitates the use of existing evacuation infrastructure (substations, lines).
The criterion of proportional cost distribution in shared infrastructure (absent an agreement between promoters) is key operational data: any company that shares a substation or evacuation line with another promoter must negotiate and document that agreement before the resolution, or will assume the proportional distribution by default.
Who does it affect?
- Promoters of operating photovoltaic solar parks studying the addition of battery storage to their facilities.
- Investment funds and renewable asset managers with portfolios of solar plants in Spain.
- Engineering and EPC companies specialized in energy storage projects.
- Network operators and evacuation infrastructure managers (shared substations, high-voltage lines).
- Legal advisors and permit consultants processing energy authorizations under RD 997/2025.
- Direct competitors of OPDE in the Cuenca and Castilla-La Mancha area evaluating similar projects.
Practical example
A promoter operating a 50 MW solar park in Castilla-La Mancha wants to add a 40 MW battery module to improve its energy dispatch. Before RD 997/2025 came into force, it had to initiate an ordinary procedure with environmental impact assessment, which could mean an additional 2 to 4 years of processing.
With the simplified procedure of RD 997/2025 — the same one used by Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL for "Hybridization Covatillas 3" — that same promoter can request prior and construction authorization simultaneously, without environmental assessment, provided it meets the assumptions of the royal decree. If it already has access and connection permits updated by Red Eléctrica de España, the process is expedited even further.
The critical point: if it shares a substation with another promoter (as happens with the El Monegrillo 132/30 kV substation in this case), it must reach a written agreement on the cost distribution of the shared infrastructure before the resolution. If it does not, the Administration will apply the proportional criterion based on access capacity, which may not be the most favorable for either party.
What should companies do now?
- Review whether your existing solar parks are eligible for hybridization under RD 997/2025. Verify if you meet the assumptions that exempt from environmental assessment: it is the difference between months and years of processing.
- Check the status of your access and connection permits with Red Eléctrica de España. If they are outdated, update them before initiating the file: it is a requirement that accelerates the resolution.
- Identify if you share evacuation infrastructure with other promoters. If so, negotiate and document the cost-sharing agreement before the Administration resolves it by default with proportional criteria.
- Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of adding storage to your current photovoltaic installations, considering dispatch optimization and peak-hour revenue.
- Consult with advisors specialized in energy processing to structure the file under the simplified procedure of RD 997/2025 from the start, avoiding errors that force a shift to the ordinary procedure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplified procedure of RD 997/2025 for hybridizations?
It is a procedure enabled by Royal Decree 997/2025 that exempts battery storage hybridization projects with existing renewable plants from environmental impact assessment, under certain assumptions. It allows simultaneous processing of prior and construction authorization, significantly reducing timelines compared to the ordinary procedure. Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL used it to obtain authorization for the "Hybridization Covatillas 3" module of 43.90 MW in Cuenca.
What happens if I share a substation with another promoter and we don't have a cost-sharing agreement?
The Administration applies by default the criterion of proportional distribution based on each promoter's access capacity. This is established by the Resolution of July 31, 2026 for the case of the El Monegrillo 132/30 kV substation, shared in the "Hybridization Covatillas 3" project. To avoid this default distribution, promoters must provide a written agreement before the administrative resolution.
What evacuation infrastructure does a typical photovoltaic-battery hybridization include?
In the case of "Hybridization Covatillas 3", the authorized evacuation infrastructure includes: underground lines at 30 kV, expansion of the El Monegrillo 132/30 kV substation, and use of the existing connection to the Minglanilla 400 kV node. This scheme — reusing existing infrastructure — is precisely what makes processing viable and agile under the simplified procedure.
How many MW does the Covatillas 3 solar park have and what is its relationship with the authorized battery?
The Covatillas 3 photovoltaic park, located in Castillejo de Iniesta (Cuenca) and operated by Solar Plant OPDE 25, SL, has an installed capacity of 48.118 MW. The authorized battery, the "Hybridization Covatillas 3" module, has 43.90 MW of installed capacity, representing approximately 91% of the capacity of the solar park to which it is associated.
What operational advantage does hybridizing a solar park with batteries provide?
Photovoltaic-battery hybridization allows storing energy generated during low-demand hours (and low prices) to inject it into the grid during peak hours (higher prices), optimizing revenue. Additionally, it contributes to electrical system stability and facilitates renewable integration into the grid, which can improve the promoter's position in adjustment and capacity service markets.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source (BOE-A-2026-18008)
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-2026-18008