Three 22.8 MW solar plants approved in Toledo: what it means for the energy sector

Key data

Solaria Promoción y Desarrollo Fotovoltaico already has the favorable environmental impact declaration (EIA) for its three Helena Solar plants in Maqueda (Toledo). The resolution, signed on July 1, 2026 and published in the BOE on July 16, 2026, is the essential prior step for construction work to begin. Without this EIA, none of the three installations could be legally built.

The project totals 68.4 MW of nominal power and 80.922 MWp of peak power among the three plants, with a total of 149,856 photovoltaic modules deployed over 206.94 hectares. The generated energy will be evacuated through an underground medium voltage line of 10.84 km to the La Cañada 220/30 kV substation.

What does this regulation establish?

The General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment issues a favorable conditional EIA for the three plants. This means that the project can be executed, but only if the promoter respects a set of environmental conditions that the resolution imposes in a binding manner.

The technical characteristics of each plant are identical:

The evaluation process included public consultations without objections and an analysis of impacts on soil, fauna, biodiversity and the Natura 2000 Network. The selected routing and implementation alternative is the one that occupies the 206.94 ha indicated, discarding other options with greater environmental impact.

The environmental conditions imposed by the EIA are mandatory during both the construction phase and the operation phase of the installations. The resolution does not publicly detail the exhaustive list of conditions, but these are legally binding for Solaria.

Economic and operational impact

For Solaria, the favorable EIA unlocks the investment associated with a 68.4 MW project in a strategic location in Castilla-La Mancha. With an estimated construction period of 12 months, the commissioning schedule will now depend on obtaining the corresponding construction permits and grid access.

From an operational perspective, the key aspects are:

• Own evacuation infrastructure: the 10.84 km underground line to La Cañada 220/30 kV is part of the project and its cost falls entirely on the promoter.
• Binding environmental conditions: non-compliance with the conditions imposed in the EIA may result in suspension of the authorization or administrative sanctions.
• Impact on Natura 2000 Network: the impact analysis on this network implies that the promoter must demonstrate compensation or minimization measures throughout the project's useful life.
• No objections in public consultation: the absence of citizen or institutional opposition in the consultation process reduces the risk of subsequent challenges.

Who does it affect?

• Solaria Promoción y Desarrollo Fotovoltaico: direct promoter, responsible for compliance with all environmental conditions of the EIA.
• Local administration of Maqueda (Toledo): municipality where the three plants are located; must coordinate construction licenses and land access.
• Regional and state environmental bodies: responsible for monitoring and verifying compliance with the imposed conditions.
• Operators of the La Cañada 220/30 kV substation: evacuation connection point; must manage the integration of the additional 68.4 MW.
• Photovoltaic construction contractor companies: those executing the works must know and apply environmental conditions during the estimated 12 months of construction.
• Landowners in the surrounding area: affected by the easement of the 10.84 km underground line.

Practical example

A contractor company awarded the construction of Helena Solar 16 (22.8 MW, approximately 49,952 modules) must plan its work within a total estimated period of 12 months for the three plants combined. This means that coordination between the three simultaneous projects is critical: any delay in laying the 10.84 km underground line —shared evacuation infrastructure— affects the commissioning schedule of all three installations.

Furthermore, if during the earthmoving phase unforeseen impact is detected on habitats included in the Natura 2000 Network, the EIA requires the promoter to halt work in that area and notify the competent environmental body. Ignoring this obligation is not an option: it constitutes direct non-compliance with the favorable environmental impact declaration and may result in suspension of the authorization.

What should companies do now?

1. Solaria: review in detail the environmental conditions imposed by the EIA and integrate them into the project plan before starting any work. Non-compliance may suspend the authorization.
2. Contractors and subcontractors: request the complete EIA document from the promoter to understand the operational restrictions applicable during construction (waste management, fauna protection, noise control, etc.).
3. Network operators: verify the reception capacity at the La Cañada 220/30 kV substation for the additional 68.4 MW and plan necessary reinforcements with sufficient advance notice.
4. Maqueda administration: prepare the construction license procedure and coordinate with Solaria the access to municipal roads during the estimated 12 months of construction.
5. Project investors and financiers: incorporate compliance with EIA conditions as a monitoring milestone in financing contracts, given that non-compliance constitutes a direct regulatory risk to asset profitability.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is purely informational in nature 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-2026-15555