El Horizonte Solar Plant (52 MW, Alicante): EIA Approved and Next Steps

Key data

The El Horizonte photovoltaic solar plant, with 51,985 MW of installed capacity in the province of Alicante, has obtained a favorable environmental impact declaration (EIA) through the Resolution of May 5, 2026 from the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment (BOE-A-2026-10730, published on May 18, 2026).

This does not mean the plant can be built immediately: the EIA is a key administrative step, but the promoter must continue with the remaining sectoral and administrative authorizations. What is now fixed are the mandatory environmental conditions that will govern the entire lifecycle of the project.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution formulates the favorable environmental impact declaration for the El Horizonte photovoltaic solar installation and its associated evacuation infrastructure. This implies three concrete effects:

• Confirmed environmental viability: The project has passed the environmental impact assessment process and is considered compatible with the environment, subject to conditions.
• Mandatory environmental conditions: The EIA establishes mandatory compliance conditions for construction and operation phases. These conditions affect biodiversity, landscape and land uses in the territory where the plant and its evacuation lines are located.
• Enablement to continue procedures: The promoter can advance with the necessary administrative and construction authorizations, taking the EIA as the base document.

The affected territorial scope includes both the plant surface and the route of electrical evacuation infrastructure, all within the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community.

Economic and operational impact

For the project promoter, the favorable EIA is a green light to activate the next investment phase. A project of 51,985 MW in the photovoltaic solar energy segment represents a significant-sized installation in the context of the Valencian Community.

The most relevant operational and economic implications are:

• Environmental compliance costs: The conditions set in the EIA generate obligations during construction (biodiversity protection measures, landscape management, land use control) and throughout the entire operational life of the plant. These measures have direct costs for the promoter and must be budgeted before starting work.
• Legal certainty for investment: Having the favorable EIA reduces the regulatory risk of the project and facilitates access to financing, as investors and financial entities require this document as a prerequisite.
• Impact on landowners: Landowners of the land where the plant and evacuation lines will be located are directly affected by the land use constraints established in the resolution.
• Implications for local administrations: Municipalities in the surrounding area must take into account the EIA conditions in their urban planning instruments and in the permits they must grant in later phases.

Who does it affect?

• Promoter of the El Horizonte solar project: Must comply with all environmental conditions of the EIA during construction and operation, and continue administrative authorization procedures.
• Landowners affected in Alicante: Both those of the plant surface and those of the electrical evacuation corridors. They must be aware of land use restrictions derived from the EIA.
• Local administrations in the province of Alicante: Municipalities and regional bodies involved in subsequent authorization procedures and in supervising compliance with environmental conditions.
• Renewable energy sector companies: The environmental viability of this 51,985 MW project is a reference for other promoters of similar installations in the Valencian Community.
• Investors and financial entities: The favorable EIA is a key milestone in the due diligence and financing process for photovoltaic projects of this scale.

Practical example

The promoter of the El Horizonte solar plant obtained the favorable EIA on May 5, 2026. From this moment on, its operational roadmap is as follows:

• Immediate step: Incorporate the environmental conditions of the EIA into the construction executive project. Any biodiversity protection measure, landscape management or land use control required by the resolution must be reflected in the project before requesting construction authorization.
• Next procedure: Request construction administrative authorization from the competent body, attaching the EIA as an enabling document.
• During construction: Apply environmental conditions in each construction phase. Non-compliance with these conditions can halt the work or generate administrative liabilities.
• During operation: Maintain active environmental measures throughout the useful life of the installation, with the possibility of inspections by the environmental administration.

For a landowner affected by evacuation lines, this is the time to review ongoing easement or expropriation agreements and verify that the land use conditions set in the EIA are consistent with what was agreed.

What should companies do now?

1. Promoter: thoroughly review the EIA conditions — Read the complete resolution (BOE-A-2026-10730) and identify all mandatory environmental conditions for construction and operation. Transfer them to the project's technical and legal team.
2. Promoter: update the executive project — Incorporate the environmental measures required in the EIA before submitting the construction authorization request. Failing to do so can cause delays or denials in later phases.
3. Landowners affected: verify implications for their plots — Consult with a legal advisor if the land use conditions of the EIA affect ongoing lease, easement or expropriation agreements.
4. Local administrations: incorporate the EIA into planning instruments — Affected municipalities must take into account the environmental conditions of the resolution in the permits and licenses they must grant in later project phases.
5. Investors and financiers: update the due diligence file — Record the favorable EIA as a completed milestone and verify that the promoter has a clear plan for the following authorization procedures.