Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of August 31, 2026, from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | September 12, 2026 |
| Effective date | September 12, 2026 |
| Developer | Energía Inagotable de Tara, SL |
| Project | Photovoltaic solar park "Tara", 23.7 MW, Tauste (Zaragoza) |
| File | PFot-753 |
| Reason for denial | Expiration of grid access and connection permits (October 29, 2023) |
| Affected substation | Jundiz 220 kV |
| Evacuation provinces | Zaragoza, Navarra, La Rioja, Álava and Burgos |
| Category | Energy / Renewables |
| Year | 2026 |
A 23.7 MW photovoltaic project has just lost its authorization definitively, not for technical or economic reasons, but due to a missed deadline. The Resolution of August 31, 2026, from the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines rejects the application for prior administrative authorization of the "Tara" solar park, promoted by Energía Inagotable de Tara, SL, in the municipality of Tauste (Zaragoza).
The file PFot-753 is archived definitively. The developer itself, after the hearing procedure, requested the archiving of the file, confirming that there was no margin for recovery.
What does this resolution establish?
The resolution rejects the application for prior administrative authorization of the "Tara" photovoltaic park and all its associated evacuation infrastructure. The closure of the file is definitive and not subject to appeal in the administrative process.
The key elements of the case are as follows:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main reason for denial | Expiration of access and connection permits to the transmission grid at the Jundiz 220 kV substation, which occurred on October 29, 2023 |
| Reason for expiration | The favorable environmental impact declaration (EIA) was not obtained within the regulatory deadline |
| Administrative competence | State level, because the evacuation infrastructure crosses five provinces (Zaragoza, Navarra, La Rioja, Álava and Burgos) |
| Prior processing | The project was processed jointly with the "Umiko" park until its separation in 2025 |
| Result of the hearing procedure | The developer requested voluntary archiving of file PFot-753 |
The planned evacuation infrastructure crossed five autonomous communities, which determined that the competence to resolve corresponded to the State and not to the autonomous community of Aragón.
Economic and operational impact
For Energía Inagotable de Tara, SL, the impact is total: years of processing, investment in technical, environmental and engineering studies, and the opportunity cost of having kept resources immobilized in a project that will never be built.
For the photovoltaic sector in general, this case illustrates one of the most frequent and least visible risks in the processing of renewable energy projects in Spain:
- The expiration of grid access and connection permits is automatic if administrative milestones are not met on time, regardless of the technical progress of the project.
- The environmental impact declaration (EIA) is a critical bottleneck: its delay can drag along the expiration of other chained permits.
- Projects processed jointly (accumulated) and later separated, as happened with "Tara" and "Umiko" in 2025, generate additional complexities in timelines and permit allocation.
- State-level competence (multi-provincial evacuation) lengthens procedures and multiplies the advisory bodies involved.
Who does it affect?
- Energía Inagotable de Tara, SL: developer directly affected, with the project closed definitively.
- Photovoltaic developers with projects under review: especially those with grid access and connection permits about to expire or with pending EIA resolution.
- Investors and renewable energy funds: who must assess the risk of expiration in their due diligence analyses.
- Advisors and energy processing consultancies: who manage the monitoring of administrative milestones for their clients.
- Developers with multi-provincial evacuation projects: who operate under state competence and face more complex and slower procedures.
Practical example
The "Tara" case is in itself the most illustrative example available. A developer obtains access and connection permits to the Jundiz 220 kV substation for a 23.7 MW park in Tauste (Zaragoza). The evacuation infrastructure crosses five provinces, which requires processing the authorization before the General State Administration.
The project is processed jointly with another park ("Umiko") for years. In 2025, both files are separated. Meanwhile, the environmental impact declaration is not obtained on time. The result: on October 29, 2023, the grid access and connection permits automatically expire. Without those valid permits, prior administrative authorization cannot be granted.
After the hearing procedure, the developer itself acknowledges the situation and requests voluntary archiving of file PFot-753. The resolution is published on September 12, 2026, definitively closing the project.
The operational lesson is clear: in photovoltaic projects, the EIA timeline must be managed as a critical path milestone, not as a parallel procedure.
What should companies do now?
- Audit the status of grid access and connection permits for all projects in your portfolio: verify expiration dates and pending milestones to avoid automatic expirations.
- Review the status of environmental impact declarations (EIA) under review: identify if any project is at risk of not obtaining the favorable EIA before its grid permits expire.
- Evaluate projects with multi-provincial evacuation: these are subject to state competence, with longer procedures. Adjust project plans and permit timelines accordingly.
- Review accumulated or recently separated files: separation can alter the timelines and validity of permits associated with each individual project.
- Establish administrative monitoring alerts: implement milestone control systems that warn with sufficient notice of critical expirations, especially in long-processing projects.
Frequently asked questions
Why has the Tara photovoltaic solar park in Tauste been denied?
The main reason is the expiration of access and connection permits to the transmission grid at the Jundiz 220 kV substation, which occurred on October 29, 2023. This expiration occurred because the developer, Energía Inagotable de Tara, SL, did not obtain the favorable environmental impact declaration (EIA) within the regulatory deadline. Without valid grid permits, prior administrative authorization cannot be granted.
What is file PFot-753 and what does its archiving mean?
PFot-753 is the administrative file number for the "Tara" photovoltaic park before the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines. Its definitive archiving, requested by the developer itself after the hearing procedure and formalized in the resolution of August 31, 2026, means that the project is closed irreversibly in the administrative process. It cannot be resumed under the same file.
Why was the processing of the Tara park a matter of state competence rather than Aragón?
Because the evacuation infrastructure associated with the project crossed five provinces: Zaragoza, Navarra, La Rioja, Álava and Burgos. When a generation facility or its evacuation infrastructure crosses the territory of more than one autonomous community, the competence to authorize corresponds to the General State Administration, specifically to the Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines.
What was the relationship between the Tara park and the Umiko park?
Both projects were processed jointly (accumulated) during part of the administrative procedure. In 2025, the two files were separated, proceeding to be processed separately. This history of joint processing added complexity to the process and may have influenced the timelines that led to the expiration of the Tara project's grid permits.
What practical lesson does this case leave for other photovoltaic developers?
The main lesson is that the environmental impact declaration (EIA) must be treated as a critical path milestone, not as a parallel procedure. If the EIA is not obtained before the expiration of grid access and connection permits, these automatically expire and the project loses its administrative basis. Developers with projects under review must urgently audit the expiration dates of their grid permits and the status of their pending EIAs.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-19108)
Disclaimer: 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-2026-19108
