Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of April 23, 2026, from the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment — Environmental impact report for Los Naipes, Naipes II and Encinar I storage modules |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | May 11, 2026 |
| Effective date | April 23, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Promoters of photovoltaic plants and renewable energy sector companies in Extremadura |
| Category | Energy / Environmental assessment |
| Total storage capacity | 64.35 MW (3 modules of 21.45 MW each) |
| Hybridized photovoltaic capacity | 139.2 MW (3 plants of 46.4 MW each) |
| Location | Province of Badajoz (Extremadura) |
Three photovoltaic plants in Badajoz —Los Naipes, Naipes II and Encinar, with 46.4 MW each— have just obtained environmental approval to incorporate energy storage modules of 21.45 MW each, adding 64.35 MW of additional storage capacity. The Resolution of April 23, 2026 from the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment, published in the BOE on May 11, 2026, formalizes the favorable environmental impact report for this hybridization project.
What is relevant for the sector is not just this specific project: it is that it establishes the procedure that any solar plant promoter must follow if they want to integrate storage in an already operational facility.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution formulates the favorable environmental impact report for the project to install three energy storage modules in the province of Badajoz, along with its associated evacuation infrastructure. The modules will be hybridized with already operational photovoltaic plants.
The approved projects are as follows:
| Storage module | Storage capacity | Associated photovoltaic plant | Existing PV capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Naipes | 21.45 MW | PSF Los Naipes | 46.4 MW |
| Naipes II | 21.45 MW | PSF Naipes II | 46.4 MW |
| Encinar I | 21.45 MW | PSF Encinar | 46.4 MW |
The project also includes the evacuation infrastructure necessary to connect the storage modules to the electrical grid. The resolution not only approves the project: it imposes specific environmental conditions that the promoter must comply with both during the construction phase and during the operation of the modules.
Economic and operational impact
The hybridization of solar plants with storage has a direct operational impact: it allows better management of grid feed-in, storing energy during hours of low demand or high production and releasing it when price or demand are more favorable. This improves revenue from energy sales and supply stability.
From a process perspective, this type of project requires passing environmental impact assessment before construction can begin. The favorable report is a necessary, not sufficient condition: the promoter is bound to comply with the environmental conditions established in the resolution throughout the life of the project.
The model approved in Badajoz is especially relevant because it demonstrates that the hybridization of already operational photovoltaic installations with storage is viable from both an environmental and regulatory perspective, opening the door to similar projects in other autonomous communities.
Who does it affect?
- Promoters of photovoltaic plants in Extremadura planning to add storage modules to already operational installations.
- Renewable energy sector companies with solar assets in the province of Badajoz or other Extremadura provinces.
- Investors and funds with participation in solar plants evaluating hybridization projects as a way to improve profitability.
- Consultancies and advisors for energy projects accompanying promoters in the environmental assessment process.
- Promoters from other autonomous communities seeking procedure references for similar solar-storage hybridization projects.
Practical example
A promoter operating the PSF Encinar photovoltaic plant (46.4 MW) in Badajoz wants to add storage capacity to optimize its income in the electricity market. The path it has followed —and which this resolution validates— is as follows:
- Design of the Encinar I storage module with 21.45 MW of power and its associated evacuation infrastructure.
- Submission of the project to environmental impact assessment before the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment.
- Obtaining the favorable environmental report with mandatory compliance conditions in construction and operation.
- Start of works and subsequent operation of the module hybridized with the existing solar plant, improving grid management and feed-in capacity.
This same scheme is what other promoters with similar hybridization projects in Extremadura must replicate.
What should companies do now?
- Review if you have operational photovoltaic plants susceptible to hybridization with energy storage, especially in Extremadura. The resolution confirms the viability of the model.
- Initiate the environmental impact assessment procedure if you have a hybridization project in your portfolio. This report is a mandatory prior condition to be able to build.
- Analyze the environmental conditions imposed in this resolution as a reference to anticipate the requirements that will be demanded in similar projects. Consult the full text in the official BOE.
- Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of adding storage to your existing solar installations, considering the improvement in grid feed-in management that hybridization allows.
- Consult with advisors specialized in energy environmental regulations to properly size the process and assessment timelines before committing investment.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do the storage modules approved in Badajoz have?
Each of the three modules —Los Naipes, Naipes II and Encinar I— has a capacity of 21.45 MW, totaling 64.35 MW of storage. They will be hybridized with existing photovoltaic plants of 46.4 MW each.
What conditions does the environmental report impose on the promoter?
The resolution establishes environmental conditions that the promoter must comply with during the construction phase and during the operation of the modules. The full details of these conditions are available in the official resolution published in the BOE.