Vega Solar Solar Plant (39.93 MW): Public Utility Declaration in Guadalajara and Madrid

Key data

Property owners in Tórtola de Henares, Chiloeches, Pozo de Guadalajara, Santorcaz, Los Santos de la Humosa and Alcalá de Henares face a forced expropriation scenario from 19 October 2026. The Resolution of 23 September 2026 from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines grants Vega Solar, SLU the public utility declaration for its 39.93 MW photovoltaic plant, the legal step that opens the door to the occupation of private land for projects of general energy interest.

This resolution is not a minor administrative procedure: it is the legal instrument that allows the promoter to initiate the expropriation or easement procedure on any property included in the project, with the backing of the State.

What does this regulation establish?

The public utility declaration is the administrative act that recognizes that an energy project has sufficient general interest to justify the limitation of private property rights. In practical terms, it means that the promoter —Vega Solar, SLU— can request the temporary occupation or definitive expropriation of necessary land, with compensation but without the possibility of blocking by the owner.

The project comprises two major infrastructure blocks:

• The 39.93 MW photovoltaic plant, located mainly in the municipality of Tórtola de Henares (Guadalajara), with effects also on Chiloeches and Pozo de Guadalajara.
• The 220 kV evacuation infrastructure, which includes the Taracena transformer substation 30/220 kV and the expansion of the Colectora Alcalá II substation, with effects on the Madrid municipalities of Santorcaz, Los Santos de la Humosa and Alcalá de Henares.

A relevant fact for understanding the file: the evacuation infrastructure (Taracena substation and Alcalá II expansion) were transferred from the Acequia Solar file, which explains the geographic extension of the project towards the province of Madrid.

The process has included reports from multiple regional and state administrations, with no significant opposition recorded, which has facilitated the favorable resolution without significant additional conditions.

Economic and operational impact

For promoter Vega Solar, SLU, this declaration represents the operational unblocking of the project: it can initiate land occupation procedures and, consequently, start construction of the plant. A 39.93 MW installation represents a typical investment in the range of tens of millions of euros in the Spanish photovoltaic sector, with a commercial operation horizon of 25-30 years.

For affected property owners, the impact is immediate and direct:

• The public utility declaration activates the promoter's right to initiate the expropriation or easement procedure.
• Property owners have the right to compensation, but the process can advance even without prior agreement on price.
• Non-response or passivity at this moment can result in less favorable compensation conditions.

For the local administrations of the six affected municipalities, the resolution implies coordinating with the promoter on access, easements and possible effects on municipal infrastructure during the construction phase.

Who does it affect?

• Owners of rural or urban properties in Tórtola de Henares, Chiloeches and Pozo de Guadalajara (Guadalajara) and in Santorcaz, Los Santos de la Humosa and Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) included in the project layout.
• Vega Solar, SLU as promoter: can initiate construction and land occupation procedures.
• Councils of the six affected municipalities: must manage urban planning and local infrastructure effects.
• Construction and engineering companies that bid for civil works and electromechanical assembly contracts for the plant.
• Network operators involved in the connection of the Taracena 30/220 kV substation and the expansion of the Colectora Alcalá II.

Practical example

A farmer who owns a rural plot in the municipality of Tórtola de Henares receives notification that his property is included in the perimeter of the Vega Solar project. With the public utility declaration already granted, Vega Solar, SLU can initiate the forced expropriation or easement procedure without needing prior agreement from the owner.

The owner has the right to submit his appreciation sheet (own valuation of the property) within the timeframe established by the expropriation procedure. If no agreement is reached with the promoter, the Provincial Expropriation Board will set the fair value. The key is to act from the first moment: hire specialized advice in land valuation and expropriations to avoid accepting compensation below the real market value.

What should companies do now?

1. Property owners: Urgently check if your property appears in the Vega Solar, SLU expropriation file. Consult the BOE and contact your municipality council to access the list of affected plots.
2. Affected owners: Hire a specialist surveyor in rural land valuation and expropriations before receiving the promoter's offer. The promoter's appreciation sheet is usually the starting point of negotiation, not the final price.
3. Construction and engineering companies: Monitor the bidding for civil works and electromechanical assembly contracts for the plant. With the public utility declaration granted, the start of works is imminent.
4. Affected municipalities: Coordinate with Vega Solar, SLU the work access plans, possible effects on rural roads and easements on municipal infrastructure.
5. Network operators: Verify the timelines and technical conditions for the connection of the Taracena 30/220 kV substation and the expansion of the Colectora Alcalá II, infrastructure transferred from the Acequia Solar file.

Official source

View complete regulation in official source

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-2026-21767