Ekienea 107 MW photovoltaic plant opens for public consultation in Álava

The Industry and Energy Area of the Government Sub-delegation in Álava has submitted for public information the request for prior administrative authorization of the modifications, the administrative construction authorization, and the declaration, specifically, of public utility of the photovoltaic plant «FV Ekienea», with an installed capacity of 107.525 MW, and its evacuation infrastructure, owned by Ekienea, SL. The announcement, signed on August 25, 2026, by the area director, Álvaro Eceolaza Santiago, is published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (no. 103, September 9, 2026), with reference 2026-02531 and file PFOT-1042.

The processing is based on Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, which regulates the authorization procedures for electrical energy installations, and Law 24/2013, of December 26, of the electricity sector. The declaration of public utility will imply the necessity of property occupation and urgent occupation for the purposes of the Compulsory Expropriation Law, affecting landowners and municipalities in the region.

The project and its infrastructure

The installation, named FV Ekienea (Armiñón), with 107.525 MWp, is completed by a boosting substation ST Armiñón 30/132 kV and a 132 kV evacuation line, overhead-underground, with a total length of 18.038 km (16.806 km overhead and 1.232 km underground), which runs through the four affected municipalities. The ST Puentelarrá 132 kV substation, which is existing and owned by I-DE Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes, SAU, is not part of the project.

• Substantive body: General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
• Processing unit: Functional Area of Industry and Energy of the Government Sub-delegation in Álava.
• Petitioner: Ekienea, SL (CIF B01582394), with address at calle Urartea 2, 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz.
• Affected municipalities: Armiñón, Ribera Baja, Ribera Alta, and Lantarón (Álava).

Previous resolutions and affected assets

The project has two previous resolutions: the environmental impact statement formulated on May 7, 2025, by the General Directorate of Environmental Quality and Evaluation, and the prior administrative authorization granted on December 22, 2025, by the General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines. The announcement includes as an annex the list of affected assets and rights (RBDA), with permanent and temporary occupations of the plant, the substation, and the line, which include plots belonging to Ekienea, SL, the Provincial Council of Álava, the city councils of Armiñón and Ribera Baja, the Administrative Board of Armiñón and the Administrative Board of Ribaguda, as well as numerous private owners.

Deadline and form of allegations

The documentation can be consulted and downloaded on the website of the Government Delegation in the Basque Country (http://run.gob.es/ip_paisvasco) or in person, by appointment, at the Government Sub-delegation in Álava (calle Olaguibel 1, Vitoria-Gasteiz). Allegations may be submitted within a period of thirty (30) business days starting from the day following the publication of the announcement, addressed to the Functional Area of Industry and Energy (organization code EA0040519), citing the file number in the subject line, through the General Registry or by the means set forth in article 16 of Law 39/2015, of October 1.

The publication allows owners, city councils, and residents of Rioja Alavesa to examine the project and submit allegations before the authorization of one of the largest photovoltaic plants planned in the territory is resolved, the development of which will involve the expropriation of land and the occupation of public domain assets.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava, no. 103, September 9, 2026, section III (official reference: 2026-02531).