Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of May 25, 2026, from the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment — Environmental Impact Statement for the project «Hybrid photovoltaic installation FV hybridization Cabeza Morena-Dueñas wind farm» |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | June 12, 2026 |
| Effective date | June 12, 2026 |
| Promoter | Corporación Acciona Eólica, SLU |
| Location | El Bonillo, province of Albacete |
| Photovoltaic capacity | 54.33 MW |
| Associated wind farm | Cabeza Morena-Dueñas, 50 MW (existing) |
| Area occupied | 100.7 ha (reduced from initial 133 ha) |
| Evacuation substation | Romica 400 kV |
| Estimated useful life | 30 years |
| Construction duration | 5 months |
| Category | Energy |
Acciona Eólica has received environmental approval to hybridize its 50 MW wind farm with a new 54.33 MW photovoltaic plant in El Bonillo (Albacete). The Resolution of May 25, 2026 from the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment issues the favorable EIA, published in the BOE on June 12, 2026. This pronouncement is the prior and essential step to obtain the final administrative authorization of the project.
Hybridization allows the new solar installation to share the existing evacuation infrastructure of the Cabeza Morena-Dueñas wind farm, connected to the Romica 400 kV substation. This infrastructure reuse is one of the technical and economic arguments that justify the project.
What does this regulation establish?
The EIA is a pronouncement by the environmental administration that determines whether a project of these characteristics can be executed and under what conditions. In this case, the resolution is favorable, which means that the project meets the required environmental requirements, although with specific conditions derived from the consultation process.
During the evaluation process, the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha and other consulted bodies required substantial modifications to the original project. The promoter had to introduce the following changes:
- Reduction of the occupied area from 133 ha to 100.7 ha (a reduction of more than 24% compared to the initial project).
- Elimination of solar trackers in the ecological corridors identified in the area.
- Expansion of connectivity corridors to protect protected species, particularly the imperial eagle and the Bonelli's eagle.
These conditions are not optional: they are part of the EIA and their non-compliance would compromise the final authorization of the project.
| Parameter | Initial project | Approved project |
|---|---|---|
| Area occupied | 133 ha | 100.7 ha |
| Trackers in ecological corridors | Included | Eliminated |
| Connectivity corridors | No expansion | Expanded |
Economic and operational impact
For the promoter, the favorable EIA means unblocking the administrative process. Without it, investment in the project cannot materialize. From this point forward, Acciona Eólica can request the final administrative authorization from the competent body.
Hybridization with the existing wind farm has a clear operational and economic advantage: no new evacuation infrastructure needs to be built. The project takes advantage of the existing connection to the Romica 400 kV substation, which reduces investment costs and simplifies network access procedures.
The estimated construction period is 5 months, with a project useful life of 30 years. For landowners in El Bonillo affected by the occupation of the 100.7 ha, the EIA opens the door to lease or expropriation negotiations as appropriate in the final authorization phase.
For the administrations of Castilla-La Mancha, the project represents the incorporation of new renewable capacity into the regional electrical system, with environmental protection commitments already set in the EIA.
Who is affected?
- Corporación Acciona Eólica, SLU: project promoter, primarily affected. Must comply with EIA conditions to move toward final authorization.
- Castilla-La Mancha Administration: substantive body that will process the final administrative authorization based on this EIA.
- Landowners in El Bonillo (Albacete): holders of the 100.7 ha affected by the installation must negotiate occupation conditions with the promoter.
- Renewable energy sector companies: this case serves as a reference for environmental criteria required in photovoltaic-wind hybridization projects in Castilla-La Mancha.
- Consultants and renewable project managers: the process reflects environmental assessment standards applicable to installations of this scale in areas with protected species.
Practical example
Imagine you are the promoter of a similar photovoltaic hybridization project in Castilla-La Mancha. Your initial project covers 133 ha and plans to install solar trackers across the entire surface, including ecological corridors.
After the consultation process with the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha and sectoral bodies, you receive the requirement to eliminate trackers in ecological corridors and expand connectivity corridors to protect the imperial eagle and Bonelli's eagle. The result: your approved area is reduced to 100.7 ha, more than 24% less than initially planned.
This reduction implies reviewing the panel layout, recalculating estimated production, and adjusting the project's financial model. The practical lesson: in areas with protected species presence, it is advisable to conduct an ecological connectivity study before sizing the project, to avoid forced reductions in advanced stages of the process.
What should companies do now?
- If you are Acciona Eólica or its legal team: initiate the final administrative authorization process with the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, incorporating EIA conditions as part of the executive project.
- If you are a landowner in El Bonillo: check if your plot is within the perimeter of the approved 100.7 ha and consult with a lawyer specializing in expropriations and energy leases before signing any agreement.
- If you are a promoter of a similar renewable project: analyze this EIA as a reference for environmental criteria required in Castilla-La Mancha for photovoltaic hybridizations in areas with protected species. Incorporate ecological connectivity studies from the design phase.
- If you are an energy project consultant or manager: update your environmental assessment checklists with the conditions applied in this case: area reduction, elimination of trackers in ecological corridors, and expansion of connectivity corridors.
- If you represent a local administration: verify if the project affects neighboring municipalities and coordinate with the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha to monitor the environmental conditions set in the EIA.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Environmental Impact Statement and why is it mandatory for this project?
The EIA is the pronouncement of the environmental administration that determines whether a project can be executed and under what conditions. For energy projects of this scale, it is an essential prerequisite to obtain final administrative authorization. Without the favorable EIA published on June 12, 2026, Acciona Eólica cannot proceed with the processing of the 54.33 MW photovoltaic project in El Bonillo.
Why was the project area reduced from 133 ha to 100.7 ha?
The reduction was required during the consultation process with the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha and sectoral bodies, as a condition to obtain the favorable EIA. The main reason was the need to eliminate solar trackers in ecological corridors and expand connectivity corridors to protect the imperial eagle and Bonelli's eagle, two protected species present in the area.
How long will the works take and what is the useful life of the installation?
According to the resolution, the estimated construction period is 5 months. The project's useful life is 30 years. The 54.33 MW photovoltaic installation will hybridize with the existing 50 MW wind farm, sharing evacuation infrastructure to the Romica 400 kV substation.
What happens after the EIA? What is the next administrative step?
The favorable EIA is the prerequisite to request the final administrative authorization of the project. It is the responsibility of the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, as the substantive body, to process that authorization. The promoter, Corporación Acciona Eólica SLU, must initiate that process incorporating all conditions set in the EIA.
What is the advantage of hybridizing the photovoltaic with the existing wind farm?
Hybridization allows sharing the already-built evacuation infrastructure of the Cabeza Morena-Dueñas wind farm, which connects directly to the Romica 400 kV substation. This avoids the need to build new evacuation infrastructure, reducing investment costs and simplifying electrical network access procedures.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-12791)
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-2026-12791