38.5 MW Battery in Badajoz: Authorization for Solar Hybridization in 2026

Key data

Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU can now begin procedures to build the «Valdecaballero Battery» energy storage battery in Casas de Don Pedro (Badajoz). The Resolution of May 20, 2026 from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines grants prior administrative authorization, the first formal milestone in the installation enablement process.

The project combines a battery storage module of 38.5 MW with the «Valdecaballero Solar» photovoltaic park of 42.299 MW already in operation, generating a hybrid installation with a combined installed capacity of 50 MW. Evacuation will be carried out through underground 30 kV lines connected to the Navalvillar 30/220 kV substation.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants prior administrative authorization —the first step in the authorization process for electrical installations in Spain— for the «Valdecaballero Battery» storage module and for part of its evacuation infrastructure.

The key technical aspects and conditions of the authorization are as follows:

A relevant fact for the sector: the project is exempt from environmental impact assessment as it does not exceed the thresholds established in Law 21/2013, on environmental assessment. This significantly accelerates the processing timeline compared to larger-scale projects.

Economic and operational impact

For Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU, hybridization represents a substantial improvement in managing the energy generated by «Valdecaballero Solar». With 38.5 MW of storage capacity, the company will be able to shift energy injection to the grid during higher-price time slots, optimizing revenues from the existing park without needing to build a new generation facility from scratch.

From an operational perspective, the conditions that the company must manage before starting construction are:

• Obtaining the municipal urban planning license from the Municipality of Casas de Don Pedro.
• Compliance with the technical conditions imposed by the regional and state bodies consulted in the procedure.
• Implementation of preventive and corrective measures in environmental and civil protection matters required in the resolution.

For the renewable energy sector as a whole in Spain, this resolution reinforces the model of hybridization of existing installations as a way to incorporate storage without needing new grid connection points, which reduces costs and processing timelines.

Who does it affect?

• Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU: direct holder of the authorization and responsible for executing the project and complying with all conditions.
• Municipality of Casas de Don Pedro (Badajoz): must process and grant the municipal urban planning license, an essential requirement for project advancement.
• Regional and state bodies consulted: have issued technical conditions that the company must integrate into the execution project.
• Renewable energy park developers in Spain: the resolution sets a precedent on the procedure and thresholds applicable to hybridization projects with storage of similar scale.
• Network operators and managers of the Navalvillar 30/220 kV substation: must coordinate the connection of the new evacuation infrastructure.

Practical example

Imagine another solar developer operating in Extremadura a photovoltaic park with power similar to «Valdecaballero Solar» (around 40-50 MW) and wants to hybridize it with a battery system. This specific case illustrates the path to follow:

• If the battery does not exceed the thresholds of Law 21/2013, the project is exempt from environmental impact assessment, as is the case with «Valdecaballero Battery» (38.5 MW).
• Evacuation can be channeled through existing 30 kV infrastructure if capacity is available at the reference substation, avoiding additional investments in new high-voltage infrastructure.
• The resulting hybrid power is limited to 50 MW in this case, which determines the applicable regulatory regime and potential revenues in the electricity market.
• The most common bottleneck in this type of project is the municipal urban planning license, whose processing timeline varies by municipality and can condition the construction schedule.

What should companies do now?

1. If you are Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU: immediately begin procedures to obtain the urban planning license from the Municipality of Casas de Don Pedro, as it is the critical condition for project advancement.
2. Integrate the technical conditions issued by regional and state bodies into the execution project before requesting prior administrative construction authorization (next step in the process).
3. Design the plan of preventive and corrective measures in environmental and civil protection matters required in the resolution, documenting it formally to demonstrate compliance to the administration.
4. If you are another renewable developer with existing photovoltaic installations: analyze whether your park meets the requirements for similar hybridization. The exemption from environmental impact assessment for projects that do not exceed the thresholds of Law 21/2013 can be a competitive advantage in processing timelines and costs.
5. Coordinate with the network manager the feasibility of connection through underground 30 kV lines to the reference substation, verifying available capacity before advancing in technical design.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at 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-2026-12863