BESS Tabernas I: Naturgy installs 19.8 MW of batteries in Almería

Key data

Naturgy Renewables, SLU, can now build the battery storage module BESS Tabernas I after receiving prior administrative and construction authorization from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines. The resolution, signed on May 9, 2025 and published in the BOE on October 21, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-21938), represents a concrete step in the strategy of hybridizing already operational renewable assets with storage capacity.

The 19.8 MW module will be integrated with the Tabernas I photovoltaic park, which already operates with 48.8 MW of installed capacity in the Almería municipality of Tabernas.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants Naturgy Renewables, SLU, two simultaneous authorizations for the BESS Tabernas I module:

• Prior administrative authorization: recognizes the viability of the project and enables its formal planning.
• Administrative construction authorization: allows the start of works on the battery module and its evacuation infrastructure.

The project was processed in accordance with Royal Decree 1955/2000 (authorization procedure for electrical installations) and Law 24/2013 of the Electricity Sector. During the processing of the file, multiple bodies were consulted, none of which filed opposition.

A relevant fact for the sector: the project was exempt from environmental impact assessment as it was not included in the scope of application of the Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment. This simplifies and accelerates processing compared to projects that do require this procedure.

Regarding grid connection, Red Eléctrica updated access and connection permits in November 2024 to specifically incorporate the battery module, adapting the rights of the existing solar park to the new hybrid configuration.

The resolution is part of cumulative processing together with the BESS Tabernas II project, suggesting that Naturgy is developing a staggered storage strategy at the same site.

Economic and operational impact

For Naturgy Renewables, hybridizing the solar park with batteries has direct operational implications:

• Generation optimization: storage allows shifting energy injection to hours of higher prices in the wholesale market, improving revenue per MWh generated.
• Reduction of spillage: during moments of high solar generation and low demand, batteries absorb energy that would otherwise be lost.
• Grid services: BESS modules can provide frequency and voltage regulation services, opening new sources of regulated income.
• Update of access permits: Red Eléctrica already updated permits in November 2024, eliminating a common administrative barrier in hybridization projects.

For the renewable sector as a whole, this authorization is a reference for how to process the hybridization of existing photovoltaic plants with storage under the RD 1955/2000 framework, especially regarding environmental assessment exemption and updating connection permits.

Who does it affect?

• Naturgy Renewables, SLU: direct holder of the authorization and responsible for construction and operation of BESS Tabernas I.
• Renewable energy developers studying hybridization of existing photovoltaic plants with storage in Spain: this resolution is a processing precedent.
• Network operators and access managers (Red Eléctrica / REE): must manage the integration of the new module into the Miralles 30/220 kV substation.
• Legal and technical advisors in the energy sector accompanying authorization processes for BESS hybridized with renewables.
• Investors and infrastructure funds with positions in renewable assets in Spain evaluating the potential of adding storage to existing plants.

Practical example

Imagine a renewable developer operating a 50 MW solar park in Andalusia wanting to add a battery module to improve its market position. The BESS Tabernas I case illustrates the path:

• Step 1 — Update of connection permits: before requesting construction authorization, Naturgy coordinated with Red Eléctrica to update access and connection permits in November 2024 to reflect the new 19.8 MW module.
• Step 2 — Processing under RD 1955/2000 and Law 24/2013: the file was processed with consultations to multiple bodies. As it did not exceed the thresholds of Law 21/2013, the project was exempt from environmental impact assessment, shortening timelines.
• Step 3 — Cumulative authorization: joint processing with BESS Tabernas II allows Naturgy to manage two modules at the same site with a single administrative procedure, reducing bureaucratic burdens.

The result: a 48.8 MW solar plant that becomes a hybrid solar + storage asset with an additional 19.8 MW of battery capacity, without requiring environmental impact assessment.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the portfolio of existing renewable assets: identify which operational photovoltaic plants could be candidates for hybridization with batteries under the same regulatory framework (RD 1955/2000 + Law 24/2013).
2. Verify compliance with Law 21/2013: check whether the planned storage project is exempt from environmental impact assessment, as occurred with BESS Tabernas I, to correctly size processing timelines.
3. Coordinate with Red Eléctrica to update access and connection permits: this step precedes the construction authorization request and can condition the project timeline.
4. Evaluate cumulative processing: if multiple BESS modules are planned at the same site (like Tabernas I and II), explore joint processing to reduce administrative burdens.
5. Consult resolution BOE-A-2026-21938 as a precedent reference for similar projects in Andalusia and other autonomous communities.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source (BOE-A-2026-21938)

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-2026-21938