Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of 6 July 2026, from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| Publication | 5 August 2026 |
| Entry into force | 5 August 2026 |
| Developer | Nicewinds Partners, SL |
| Project | Cerro de Magaña Wind Farm — 50.10 MW |
| Location | Magaña, Trévago, Suellacabras and Valdegeña (Soria) |
| Evacuation voltage | 220 kV |
| Initial application | May 2023 |
| Favourable EIA | December 2025 |
| REE permit expiry | August 2025 |
| Developer withdrawal | March 2026 |
| Key regulatory framework | Royal Decree-Law 23/2020 (administrative milestones) |
| Category | Energy |
A 50.10 MW wind project in Soria province loses its authorization before it starts. Not due to technical or environmental problems, but due to an administrative timeline mismatch: the favourable Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) arrived in December 2025, but the grid access and connection permits granted by Red Eléctrica de España (REE) had already expired in August 2025 for failing to meet the second administrative milestone required by the Royal Decree-Law 23/2020.
The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines formally accepts the withdrawal presented by Nicewinds Partners, SL in March 2026, closing a file that had begun in May 2023. The result: years of processing, project costs and lost grid permits with no possibility of recovery.
What does this resolution establish?
The resolution of 6 July 2026 accepts the withdrawal by Nicewinds Partners, SL of its application for prior administrative authorization for the Cerro de Magaña wind farm. The project included both the wind farm itself (50.10 MW) and its evacuation infrastructure at 220 kV in the municipalities of Magaña, Trévago, Suellacabras and Valdegeña (Soria).
The chain of events that led to the closure of the file is as follows:
- May 2023: Nicewinds Partners, SL submits the application for prior administrative authorization.
- August 2025: REE grants grid access and connection permits. However, on that same date, these permits expire for failure to meet the second administrative milestone required by RDL 23/2020.
- December 2025: A favourable Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) is obtained, but already outside the deadline required by RDL 23/2020 for the second milestone.
- March 2026: Without valid grid permits, the developer submits formal withdrawal.
- 6 July 2026: The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines accepts the withdrawal.
- 5 August 2026: Publication in the BOE and entry into force of the resolution.
The milestone mechanism of the RDL 23/2020 establishes that grid access and connection permits are linked to compliance with certain administrative milestones within specific timeframes. If the developer fails to demonstrate having passed the second milestone (which in this case required having the EIA) within the deadline, the grid permits automatically expire, with no possibility of extension.
Economic and operational impact
This case illustrates a first-order regulatory risk for the renewable sector in Spain: automatic expiry of grid permits due to failure to meet administrative milestones can destroy the value accumulated over years of processing.
The economic and operational consequences of this type of situation include:
- Loss of grid access and connection permits, which in many cases have high strategic value given network congestion in certain areas.
- Processing costs accumulated over years (environmental impact studies, engineering, administrative fees, legal fees) that are not recoverable.
- Inability to reuse expired grid permits: the developer must start a new process from scratch if they want to resume the project.
- Reputational risk with investors and financial partners who may have participated in the development phase.
In the case of Cerro de Magaña, the gap was only a few months between the expiry of grid permits (August 2025) and obtaining the EIA (December 2025), but that margin was enough to make the project unviable.
Who does it affect?
- Wind farm developers with projects in processing subject to the RDL 23/2020 milestone regime.
- Developers of other renewable installations (photovoltaic, hybrid) that have grid permits conditioned on administrative milestones.
- Investment funds and family offices with stakes in renewable project development vehicles in Spain.
- Legal advisors and permit consultants managing renewable project portfolios.
- Financing entities (banks, debt funds) that assess regulatory risk in financing projects in the development phase.
Practical example
A developer has a 40 MW wind farm in processing. REE grants it grid access and connection permits in July 2025. According to RDL 23/2020, the second administrative milestone requires demonstrating the EIA before a deadline linked to the granting of those permits.
If the environmental assessment procedure is delayed—for example, due to objections during the public information period or due to the administration's workload—and the EIA does not arrive before that deadline, the grid permits automatically expire. This is exactly what happened with Cerro de Magaña: the EIA arrived in December 2025, but the permits had already expired in August 2025.
The developer would then find itself in the same situation as Nicewinds Partners: without valid grid permits, unable to continue processing and with the only option being withdrawal or starting a new file from scratch, competing again for grid access in a possibly saturated area.
What should companies do now?
- Audit the milestone status of all projects in the portfolio: Review which projects have granted grid permits and what is the deadline for meeting the second administrative milestone according to RDL 23/2020. This review must be done immediately.
- Map the status of the environmental assessment procedure: Identify what phase the EIA of each project is in and estimate with conservative margin when it could be obtained. Compare that estimate with the expiry deadlines of grid permits.
- Activate deadline alerts with sufficient advance notice: Do not wait until the deadline is approaching. If there is risk of delay, action must be taken months in advance to explore whether there is any administrative route (partial milestone accreditation, appeals, etc.).
- Consult with advisors specialized in energy regulation: The RDL 23/2020 milestone regime has specific interpretations and scenarios. A misreading of the deadline can have irreversible consequences, as the Cerro de Magaña case demonstrates.
- Evaluate the viability of projects at risk of expiry: If the analysis reveals that a project cannot meet the milestone on time, it is preferable to make anticipated strategic decisions (renegotiation, assignment, restructuring) before reaching automatic expiry.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the grid permits for the Cerro de Magaña wind farm expire?
The grid access and connection permits granted by REE in August 2025 automatically expired because the favourable Environmental Impact Statement (EIA) was not obtained within the deadline required by Royal Decree-Law 23/2020 for the second administrative milestone. The EIA arrived in December 2025, several months after the permits expired.
What is the second administrative milestone of RDL 23/2020 and what deadline does it require?
RDL 23/2020 establishes a system of administrative milestones linked to grid access and connection permits for renewable projects. The second milestone requires the developer to demonstrate having obtained certain administrative authorizations (including the EIA) within a specific timeframe from the granting of grid permits. If not met, the permits automatically expire. The exact deadlines depend on the date of granting of the permits and the applicable regulations in each case.
Can Nicewinds Partners request permits for the same project again?
Yes, technically it can start a new file from scratch, but it would have to compete again for grid access in the Soria area, which may be saturated or have different conditions. Expired permits are not recoverable or transferable to the new file.
Which municipalities in Soria were included in the Cerro de Magaña project?
The project affected four municipalities in Soria province: Magaña, Trévago, Suellacabras and Valdegeña. The evacuation infrastructure was planned at 220 kV.
How can a developer avoid automatic expiry of their grid permits?
The key is to continuously monitor the milestone deadlines linked to each grid permit and compare those deadlines with the actual progress of the environmental assessment procedure. If there is risk of delay, action must be taken with sufficient advance notice—months, not weeks—to explore legal alternatives or make strategic decisions about the project before expiry becomes irreversible.
Official source
Consult complete regulations at 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-2026-17066