Key data
| Regulation | Decree-law 1/2026, of January 26, amending Law 6/2022 on climate change and energy transition in Canaries, Decree-law 5/2024 and Law 4/2017 on Land and Protected Natural Areas of Canaries |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | April 20, 2026 |
| Effective date | January 26, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Energy developers, renewable energy companies, local administrations and landowners in Canaries |
| Category | Energy / Energy Transition |
| Modified regulations | Law 6/2022 (climate change), Decree-law 5/2024 (previous reform) and Law 4/2017 (land and protected natural areas) |
| Type of regulation | Regional decree-law (urgent nature) |
Developers of photovoltaic and wind projects in Canaries have new rules of the game as of January 26, 2026. The Decree-law 1/2026 modifies three regulations that governed the deployment of renewable energy in the archipelago and which, according to the legislator itself, generated obstacles that hindered energy transition.
The regulation has an urgent nature as it is approved as a regional decree-law, which means immediate application without waiting for an ordinary legislative process. If you have projects in processing or planning phase in Canaries, the new criteria are already in force.
What does this regulation establish?
Decree-law 1/2026 acts on three different regulations with a common objective: to unlock the deployment of renewable energy by eliminating regulatory incompatibilities and accumulated administrative obstacles.
| Modified regulation | Reference | Scope of change |
|---|---|---|
| Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition of Canaries | Law 6/2022, of December 27 | Territorial compatibility criteria between energy installations and protected areas |
| Decree-law amending Law 6/2022 | Decree-law 5/2024, of June 24 | Adjustments to the previous reform that also generated obstacles |
| Law on Land and Protected Natural Areas of Canaries | Law 4/2017, of July 13 | Land planning for implementation of energy infrastructure |
The two main axes of the reform are:
- Territorial compatibility: The criteria that determine whether a photovoltaic or wind installation can be located in areas near or within protected natural areas are adjusted. The objective is to expand implementation possibilities without compromising environmental protection.
- Land planning: Aspects of Law 4/2017 that directly affect how land necessary for energy infrastructure is processed and authorized are modified, reducing friction in the administrative process.
It is relevant to understand the context: Decree-law 5/2024 had already attempted to reform Law 6/2022 barely two years after its approval. The new Decree-law 1/2026 also corrects aspects of that intermediate reform, which indicates that the Canaries regulatory framework for renewables has been in continuous adjustment since 2022.
Economic and operational impact
The direct impact of this regulation is not measured in fees or sanctions, but in unlocking investment. The administrative and regulatory obstacles that were hindering renewable projects in Canaries represented delays in the commissioning of installations, with the financial and opportunity cost that this implies for developers.
The concrete operational effects for companies are:
- Projects in processing: Cases that were blocked by territorial incompatibilities with protected areas can be reactivated under the new criteria.
- New projects: The planning of photovoltaic and wind installations must now be done with the new framework, which expands location possibilities.
- Landowners: Changes in Law 4/2017 may alter the classification or use regime of land relevant to energy infrastructure, affecting both owners and developers in the land negotiation phase.
- Local administrations: Municipalities and island councils with competencies in territorial planning must adapt their planning instruments to the new criteria.
Who does it affect?
- Photovoltaic project developers in Canaries: Directly affected by the new territorial compatibility criteria with protected areas.
- Wind project developers in Canaries: Same impact as photovoltaic developers regarding compatibility and processing.
- Energy companies with operations in Canaries: Must review whether their existing or planned installations are affected by changes in Law 6/2022.
- Landowners in Canaries: Especially those with land in areas near protected natural areas or with potential for energy infrastructure.
- Canaries local administrations: Municipalities and island councils with competencies in territorial planning and urban development.
- Advisors and consultants for renewable projects: Need to update their knowledge of the regulatory framework to properly advise developers and investors.
Practical example
A developer company had a photovoltaic project in processing in Tenerife whose location bordered a protected natural area. Under the original Law 6/2022 and its modification by Decree-law 5/2024, the project had been halted due to territorial incompatibility.
With the entry into force of Decree-law 1/2026 on January 26, 2026, the territorial compatibility criteria have been adjusted precisely to unlock this type of situation. The developer company must now:
- Review whether its project complies with the new compatibility criteria established in the modified Law 6/2022.
- Check whether changes in Law 4/2017 on Land affect the classification of the land where the installation is located.
- Resume administrative processing with documentation updated to the new regulatory framework.
This scenario is representative of the type of projects that the Canaries legislator wanted to unlock urgently through this decree-law.
What should companies do now?
- Review projects in processing: If you have photovoltaic or wind installation cases halted in Canaries due to territorial incompatibilities, analyze whether the new criteria of Decree-law 1/2026 unlock them.
- Update planning for new projects: Any project in design phase or land search must incorporate the new compatibility criteria with protected areas and changes in Law 4/2017.
- Verify impact on negotiated or acquired land: If you have purchased or are negotiating land for energy infrastructure in Canaries, check whether changes in land planning affect its use regime.
- Coordinate with local administrations: Municipalities and island councils are adapting their planning instruments. Maintain contact with competent administrations to learn about implementation timelines and specific requirements in each territory.