Naturgy obtains authorization for the Tabernas II BESS batteries in Almería

The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has granted Naturgy Renovables, SLU the prior administrative authorization and the administrative construction authorization for the battery storage module “BESS Tabernas II”, with an installed capacity of 19.8 MW, for its hybridization with the existing “Tabernas II” solar photovoltaic plant, of 48.8 MW, located in the municipality of Tabernas, in the province of Almería. The resolution, dated May 9, 2025, is published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) no. 254, of October 13, 2026, section III, with the official reference BOE-A-2026-21303.

The text originates from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and resolves the promoter’s request in a single act, invoking the principles of speed and procedural economy. The authorization is granted without prejudice to the concessions and authorizations that may be necessary regarding land use and the environment, and the rest of the permits required to execute the work.

Processing and background

Naturgy Renovables, SLU requested the authorizations on March 8, 2023, with subsequent corrections on August 22, 2023, and July 4, 2024. On July 10, 2024, the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines issued a joinder agreement to jointly process the files for “BESS Tabernas I” and “BESS Tabernas II”, both of 19.8 MW, and their evacuation infrastructure.

The joined file was initiated in the Dependency of the Functional Area of Industry and Energy of the Government Sub-delegation in Almería, in accordance with articles 127 and 131 of Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, which regulates the authorization procedures for electrical energy installations. The dependency issued a report on December 13, 2024, which was later supplemented.

• Public information: published on September 20, 2024, in the “Official Gazette of the Province of Almería” and on September 25, 2024, in the Official State Gazette.
• Allegations: one of an environmental nature, submitted by Grupo Ecologistas del Mediterráneo, answered by the promoter.
• Favorable reports: General Directorate of Forest Policy and Biodiversity, General Directorate of Protected Natural Areas, General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation, and General Directorate of Emergencies and Civil Protection, all from the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía).
• No response within the deadline, with tacit conformity: Tabernas City Council, Provincial Council of Almería, Endesa Distribución Redes Digitales, SLU, Colectora La Serrata, and Ecologistas en Acción-CODA, among others.

Technical characteristics of the installation

The project, titled “Battery energy storage plant in hybridization with the Tabernas-II photovoltaic plant,” is dated March 2023 and approved on March 8, 2023. Its objective is to construct a battery module within the premises of the photovoltaic installation, next to the transformation substation, which will allow for the storage of both energy from the plant and energy acquired from the grid for subsequent delivery.

• Module type: storage, with lithium-ion technology.
• Storage capacity: 46.656 MWh, equivalent to 2.35 hours.
• Nine standard 40-foot containers, with eighteen battery racks each and 5.184 MWh per container.
• Five power blocks: four with four 1,100 kW inverters and a 5,800 kVA transformer, plus one with two 1,100 kW inverters and a 2,900 kVA transformer.
• 30/0.4 kV 800 kVA transformation center for auxiliary services and disaggregated measurement.
• Installed storage power in inverters: 19.80 MW.
• Access capacity according to the permits from Red Eléctrica de España: 45 MW.

Evacuation and authorization conditions

Evacuation will be carried out via an underground 30 kV circuit to the existing Miralles 30/220 kV electrical substation, the expansion of which is authorized with a new line bay, two modules with voltage transformers, and a set of current transformers. The rest of the infrastructure to the transmission grid, at the Tabernas 220 kV substation, owned by Red Eléctrica de España, SAU, is not part of the scope of the resolution as it utilizes the existing facilities of “FV Tabernas II”.

The photovoltaic plant is registered in the Administrative Registry of Electric Energy Production Installations under number RE-113898, and Red Eléctrica de España, SAU updated the access and connection permits on November 6, 2024, to incorporate the battery module.

The annex sets the special conditions: the works must be executed according to the submitted project; the deadline for the operating authorization will be twenty-four months from notification or as derived from Royal Decree-law 23/2020, of June 23, in no case exceeding eight years in accordance with article 28 of Royal Decree-law 8/2023, of December 27. An administrative appeal may be filed against the resolution, which does not end the administrative process, before the Secretary of State for Energy within one month. The document is signed by the Director General of Energy Policy and Mines, Manuel García Hernández.

The authorization consolidates the deployment of storage in hybridization with already operational solar facilities, a formula that allows for the reuse of existing connection points and provides flexibility to the electrical system without occupying new land. For the sector, the Tabernas case sets the pace at which the Administration is resolving battery files associated with renewable plants in Andalusia.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 254, of October 13, 2026, section III, page 136621 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-21303).