The Regional Government authorizes the El Retortillo photovoltaic plant in Peñaflor and Hornachuelos

The Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) has granted the prior administrative authorization and the administrative construction authorization for the self-consumption photovoltaic installation at the raw water pumping station of El Retortillo diversion dam, promoted by the Consorcio para Abastecimiento y Saneamiento de Aguas Plan Écija. The resolution was signed on September 14, 2026, by the Secretary General of Industry and Energy, María Almudena Gómez Velarde, and published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Seville (Boletín Oficial de la Provincia de Sevilla) number 189, dated September 29, 2026, with official reference BOP-SE-2026-189039.

The installation is located within the municipal boundaries of Peñaflor (Seville) and Hornachuelos (Córdoba), and its file number is 20260181. The promoter is the Consorcio Plan Écija, with NIF P4100026F and notification address at Carretera Madrid-Cádiz, kilometer 451, municipality of Écija (CP 41400).

A seven-month processing period

The authorization request entered the General Secretariat of Industry and Energy on February 18, 2026. On March 5, 2026, an administrative notice was sent to the promoter to rectify documentation and clarify the applicable environmental prevention instrument, and the response was received on June 17, 2026.

Regarding environmental prevention, the Territorial Delegation in Seville of the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment issued a statement on January 29, 2026, indicating that the action is subject to Environmental Qualification by the Peñaflor City Council. The promoter provided the favorable environmental qualification issued by said city council on May 7, 2026.

On June 22, 2026, the file was sent to the competent bodies for reporting:

• Hornachuelos City Council
• Peñaflor City Council
• Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation
• Edistribución Redes Digitales, S.L.
• General Directorate of Territorial Planning, Urbanism and Urban Agenda of the Ministry of Housing, Youth and Territorial Planning
• Competent territorial delegations in energy matters for Seville and Córdoba

Favorable territorial report and absence of public information

On July 14, 2026, the Territorial Impact Report from the General Directorate of Territorial Planning, Urbanism and Urban Agenda was received, concluding that the project presents no negative territorial impact, subject to the observations in subsections 3.f) and 3.g). No response was received from the other consulted bodies.

The resolution is based on Article 49 and Article 58.2.3º of Organic Law 2/2007, of March 19, of the Statute of Autonomy for Andalusia, and on Presidential Decree 9/2026, of July 9, and Decree 198/2026, of July 30, regarding the organic structure of the Department. The procedures of Title VII of Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, developing Law 24/2013, of December 26, of the Electricity Sector, and Royal Decree 413/2014, of June 6, have been complied with.

The fourth final provision of Decree-law 26/2021, of December 14, exempts authorization requests that do not require a declaration of public utility nor are subject to unified environmental authorization from the public information process, which is the case for this file.

Publication and appeal process

The resolution orders the notification of the agreement to the applicant, the public administrations and bodies, and the affected public service companies, as well as its publication in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía and in the official gazettes of the affected provinces.

Against the resolution, which does not end the administrative route, an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed before the head of the Department of University, Industry, Energy and Innovation within a period of one (1) month from the day following its publication or notification, in accordance with Articles 121 and 122 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, and Article 115.1 of Law 9/2007, of October 22.

The regional approval unlocks a self-consumption installation intended to power the raw water pumping of the El Retortillo diversion dam, a key infrastructure for the supply of the municipalities that make up the Consorcio Plan Écija. The authorization allows the promoter to begin construction and reduces the energy cost of a basic service such as the water supply in the region.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Seville, No. 189, Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Regional Administration, pp. 204-206 (official reference: BOP-SE-2026-189039).