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

Key data

Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU can proceed with the hybridization of its Navalvillar photovoltaic park after receiving prior administrative authorization from the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines. The resolution, signed on May 7, 2026 and published in the BOE on June 13, 2026, closes a process initiated in October 2022 and opens the execution phase subject to technical, patrimonial and hydrological requirements.

The result is a hybrid installation of 50 MW of installed capacity that combines photovoltaic generation and battery storage at a single grid connection point.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution grants prior administrative authorization for the storage module called "Navalvillar Battery", 38.5 MW, and for part of its evacuation infrastructure. This authorization is the first formal step in the administrative process for enabling electrical installations in Spain; it does not authorize the start of construction by itself.

The key technical and administrative elements of the resolution are:

A relevant aspect is that the non-requirement of an environmental impact statement is justified because it is a modification of an existing project without significant impact on Natura 2000 Network areas, which simplified and accelerated the processing compared to new projects on virgin land.

Economic and operational impact

For Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU, the authorization represents the unblocking of a storage investment that has been in processing since October 2022. The most relevant operational effects are:

• Greater dispatch flexibility: the 38.5 MW battery allows energy generated by the solar park to be shifted to time slots with higher prices in the wholesale market.
• Optimization of the connection point: the hybrid installation operates under a single 50 MW access to the grid, taking advantage of the existing Navalvillar 30/220 kV step-up substation and avoiding the construction of new high-voltage infrastructure.
• Reduction of evacuation costs: the 30 kV underground lines connect the batteries with the existing substation, minimizing new civil works.
• Conditions that generate additional cost: compliance with civil protection, cultural heritage and hydrology conditions implies studies, corrective measures and possible design adaptations before the start of construction.

For the energy sector in general, this resolution is an example of the photovoltaic-battery hybridization model that is gaining weight in Spain: it allows maximizing the use of existing grid infrastructure and improving the profitability of already operational solar parks.

Who does it affect?

• Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU: direct promoter and authorization holder. Must comply with all conditions before starting construction.
• Municipality of Casas de Don Pedro (Badajoz): must process and grant municipal planning permission before the start of construction.
• Regional administration of Extremadura: involved in sectoral reports (civil protection, cultural heritage, hydrology) whose compliance is a condition of the authorization.
• Other promoters of existing solar parks: the resolution is a reference for hybridization projects with storage in already operational photovoltaic installations in Spain.
• Network operators and managers of the Navalvillar 30/220 kV substation: must coordinate the integration of the new storage module into the existing evacuation infrastructure.

Practical example

Enel Green Power has in operation the "Navalvillar Solar" solar park with 42.295 MW of photovoltaic power in Casas de Don Pedro. Without storage, all generated energy must be fed to the grid at the moment of production, which limits the ability to optimize income in the electricity market.

With the authorized hybridization, the "Navalvillar Battery" module of 38.5 MW will allow storing solar energy during peak generation hours (midday) and discharging it during periods of higher demand and price (afternoon-evening). All this without needing to build a new substation: the 30 kV underground lines will connect the batteries directly with the existing Navalvillar 30/220 kV step-up substation, reducing investment in evacuation infrastructure.

The result is a hybrid installation of 50 MW that operates under a single grid access point, with greater market value and better utilization of the existing photovoltaic asset.

What should companies do now?

1. Enel Green Power España Solar 1, SLU: review and comply with the technical conditions for civil protection, cultural heritage and hydrology established in the resolution before starting any construction.
2. Request municipal planning permission from the Municipality of Casas de Don Pedro: it is a mandatory prior requirement for the start of construction, it cannot be omitted even though prior administrative authorization has already been granted.
3. Coordinate with regional bodies of Extremadura to verify compliance with the favorable sectoral reports issued during processing.
4. Other promoters with existing solar parks studying hybridization with batteries: analyze this resolution as a procedural reference, especially regarding the non-requirement of an environmental impact statement for modifications of existing projects without impact on Natura 2000 Network.
5. Verify technical coordination with the operator of the Navalvillar 30/220 kV step-up substation for the integration of the new 30 kV underground lines.

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-2026-12861