Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of August 5, 2026, from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | August 20, 2026 |
| Effective date | August 20, 2026 |
| Developer | Savanna Power Solar 9, SLU |
| Cancelled project | Ciudad de Tartessos I photovoltaic plant |
| Installed capacity | 59.09 MW |
| Affected municipalities | Trigueros, San Juan del Puerto, Moguer and Palos de la Frontera (Huelva) |
| Reason for withdrawal | Final approval of the informative study for the Seville-Huelva high-speed train (December 2024), which affected the 220 kV collector substation |
| Prior authorization granted | July 2023 |
| Withdrawal date | September 2025 |
| Category | Energy / Photovoltaic |
| Year | 2026 |
A 59.09 MW photovoltaic project that had passed prior administrative authorization in July 2023 has just been officially cancelled. The reason: the final approval of the informative study for the Seville-Huelva high-speed train in December 2024 blocked the 220 kV collector substation that was essential for evacuating the generated energy. The Resolution of August 5, 2026, from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines, formally accepts the withdrawal presented by Savanna Power Solar 9, SLU in September 2025.
This is not an isolated case of poor business management: it illustrates a systemic risk affecting any renewable developer whose evacuation infrastructure may be compromised by the planning of major public transport works.
What does this resolution establish?
The resolution published on August 20, 2026 in the BOE formalizes two decisions:
- Acceptance of the withdrawal presented by Savanna Power Solar 9, SLU in September 2025, regarding the request for administrative authorization to construct the Ciudad de Tartessos I photovoltaic plant.
- Waiver of prior administrative authorization that had been granted in July 2023 for this same project.
Additionally, the resolution notes that the access and connection permits to the transmission network had already expired prior to the formal withdrawal, leaving the project without technical viability for evacuation regardless of the conflict with the high-speed train.
The developer has requested the return of economic guarantees deposited during the processing, which is the standard step in these withdrawal procedures.
Economic and operational impact
The cancellation of a 59.09 MW project represents the loss of an investment in processing that, for photovoltaic plants of this scale, typically involves significant accumulated costs in environmental impact studies, engineering, administrative fees and deposited guarantees. Although the resolution does not detail the specific amount of the guarantees, their return is the only economic return recovered by the developer.
From the sector's perspective, the most relevant impact is not the project itself, but the precedent it establishes: a prior authorization granted in 2023 can become void if a planned transport infrastructure—in this case the Seville-Huelva high-speed train—affects critical elements of the project such as the collector substation.
Developers with projects in areas near railway corridors, highways or transport infrastructure under planning must incorporate this risk into their viability analysis from the earliest phases.
Who does it affect?
- Photovoltaic plant developers with projects under processing in Andalusia and, in particular, in the province of Huelva.
- Investors and funds with positions in renewable projects in Spain that may be exposed to risks from planning of transport infrastructure.
- Legal and technical advisors accompanying authorization processes for electricity generation facilities.
- CFOs and business development directors in energy sector companies who must review the viability of their project development portfolio.
- Companies with projects in areas near the Seville-Huelva railway corridor or other infrastructure corridors under active planning.
Practical example
Imagine you are a developer of a 50 MW solar plant in the province of Huelva. In 2022 you request prior administrative authorization, which is granted to you in 2023. In parallel, the Ministry of Transport processes the informative study for the Seville-Huelva high-speed train. In December 2024, that study is finally approved and the planned route directly affects the plot where you had planned your 220 kV collector substation, which is the critical node for evacuating all generated energy.
Without a viable substation, the project cannot evacuate energy. Without access and connection permits—which have also expired—you cannot reconnect to the network through another route in reasonable time. The result is the same as Savanna Power Solar 9: withdrawal in September 2025 and request for return of guarantees. Years of processing and development costs with no return on investment.
The practical lesson: before advancing into costly development phases, cross-reference your project with the transport infrastructure plans of the Ministry of Transport and with the informative studies under processing that may affect the area of influence of your substation.
What should companies do now?
- Audit your development project portfolio: identify which projects have collector substations or evacuation infrastructure in areas potentially affected by transport corridors under planning (railway, road, energy).
- Cross-reference with public infrastructure planning: consult the informative studies under processing from the Ministry of Transport and regional departments to detect overlaps before incurring advanced development costs.
- Review the status of your access and connection permits: these permits have validity periods. If they have expired or are about to expire, act before the project loses technical viability for evacuation.
- Incorporate transport infrastructure risk into your due diligence: both in your own projects and in acquisitions of third-party portfolios, this factor should be an explicit analysis criterion.
- If you are already in a situation of unfeasibility, process the withdrawal as soon as possible: the resolution confirms that the developer can recover deposited guarantees through the formal withdrawal procedure before the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Ciudad de Tartessos I solar plant in Huelva cancelled?
Savanna Power Solar 9, SLU withdrew in September 2025 because the final approval of the informative study for the Seville-Huelva high-speed train in December 2024 directly affected the 220 kV collector substation of the project, making energy evacuation unfeasible. Additionally, the access and connection permits to the transmission network had already expired previously.
What happens to the guarantees deposited by the developer?
Savanna Power Solar 9, SLU has formally requested the return of economic guarantees deposited during project processing. The resolution from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines accepts the withdrawal, which opens the procedure for returning said guarantees.
Which municipalities in Huelva were affected by this photovoltaic project?
The Ciudad de Tartessos I photovoltaic plant and its evacuation infrastructure were planned in the municipal areas of Trigueros, San Juan del Puerto, Moguer and Palos de la Frontera, all in the province of Huelva.
What risk does the planning of the Seville-Huelva high-speed train pose for other renewable projects?
This case demonstrates that the approval of informative studies for major transport infrastructure can block renewable projects already advanced in processing, even with prior authorization granted. Any developer with facilities in the area of influence of the Seville-Huelva corridor or other corridors under planning must review whether their evacuation infrastructure may be affected.
When was the prior authorization for the project granted and when did the connection permits expire?
Prior administrative authorization was granted in July 2023. The access and connection permits to the transmission network expired prior to the formal withdrawal, which was submitted in September 2025. The resolution accepting the withdrawal was published on August 20, 2026.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in 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-2026-17987