Spain is consulting on mechanisms to allocate up to 11 GW of grid-access capacity to renewable energy and storage projects
15 nodes will generally allocate capacity in application order in Just Transition areas
MITECO has also proposed a competitive tender for Guardo 220 kV and Velilla 400 kV
Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) is seeking public input on allocating up to 11 GW of grid-access capacity for renewable energy and storage projects in Just Transition areas. The consultation runs from September 24, 2026 to October 8, 2026.
The Institute for Just Transition (ITJ), under MITECO, has proposed two mechanisms for allocating the capacity. The first covers 15 grid nodes, where capacity would generally be allocated in the order applications are received, subject to technical, environmental and socioeconomic requirements.
The 15 nodes covered by the first mechanism are located across A Coruña, Almería, Asturias, Burgos, Cádiz, León, Palencia and Puertollano regions. MITECO is making grid capacity available at nodes linked to the closure of coal and thermal power plants for new renewable energy and storage projects under Spain’s Just Transition strategy.
The available grid capacity, explained MITECO, is intended to support new renewable generation and storage while contributing to the economic redevelopment of territories affected by the energy transition.
The second mechanism covers the Guardo 220 kV and Velilla 400 kV nodes in Palencia, where MITECO proposes a competitive tender. The ITJ identified significant interest in reversible pumped-hydropower storage projects at these nodes during an earlier expression-of-interest process.
The proposed mechanisms follow an expression of interest (EOI) process conducted by the ITJ between April and June 2026 to assess demand for the reserved grid capacity for renewable energy and storage projects.
Projects seeking grid capacity will have to comply with the applicable technical and environmental conditions and make socioeconomic commitments benefiting the relevant Just Transition areas.
Spain was the second largest solar PV market in Europe in 2025 with a combined 67.2 GW installed, according to the Spanish Photovoltaic Association (UNEF). It says the country installed 10.1 GW of new PV capacity in 2025 comprising 8.96 GW ground-mounted, and 1.14 GW of self-consumption capacity. The association says the country’s self-consumption PV capacity is stabilizing at around 1.1 GW annually even as the new installed capacity dropped by 4% year-on-year (YoY).
UNEF also tracked storage installations in Spain last year. It says Spain installed 540 MWh of behind-the-meter (BTM) storage capacity in 2025 with a 65% annual increase. The country now has 261 MW of installed ground-mounted storage capacity, 241 MW of hybrid storage, and 20 MW of standalone storage. The administration has granted over 33 GW of permits and 14.6 GW capacity is in the permitting process.
