Política Energética dismisses the 55.8 MW La Oliva photovoltaic project

The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has dismissed the request from EDP Renovables España, S.L.U. for prior administrative authorization and administrative construction authorization for the photovoltaic installation “La Oliva”, with an installed capacity of 55.8 MW, and has agreed to archive file SGIISE/PFot-393. The decision is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Alicante No. 188, dated October 2, 2026, Section I. Central Administration, page 1 (document 7436). The project affected the municipal boundaries of Villena, Campo de Mirra, Cañada, and Benejama, in the province of Alicante, and Caudete, in the province of Albacete.

The resolution is issued under Article 53 of Law 24/2013, of December 26, on the Electricity Sector, and Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, which regulates the authorization procedures for electrical energy installations. The file was initiated in the Industry and Energy departments of the Government sub-delegations in Alicante and Albacete and processed in accordance with Articles 127 and 131 of the aforementioned royal decree.

The promoter requested the prior administrative authorization on November 26, 2020, which was corrected on December 15 and 17 of that year. The Environmental Impact Statement was formulated by resolution on August 12, 2022, by the General Directorate of Environmental Quality and Evaluation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, published in the Official State Gazette No. 201, of August 22, 2022, and the prior administrative authorization was granted by resolution on December 12, 2022, published in the BOE No. 307, of December 23, 2022. The new request for prior and construction authorization, including project modifications, was submitted on February 13 and March 8, 2023, corrected on March 21, 2023, and completed on May 6, 2024.

Unfavorable urban and environmental reports

Among the consulted bodies, unfavorable reports were received regarding the project due to urban, territorial, and landscape incompatibility, as well as for environmental reasons. These came from:

• General Directorate of Natural Environment and Biodiversity of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha.
• General Directorate of Urbanism, Landscape and Environmental Evaluation of the Generalitat Valenciana.
• State Roads Demarcation in the Valencian Community, of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.

On July 22, 2024, the promoter was required to rectify various aspects, including the response to the conditions set by the Diputación de Alicante, ADIF, Red Eléctrica, and the Demarcación de Carreteras, as well as accreditation of compliance with the environmental impact statement regarding the construction schedule, compensatory measures for the affection of fauna habitats, and justification of the evacuation line. The promoter replied on July 23, 2024, alleging that a large part of the reports had been issued overdue, and requested the granting of the authorizations.

Expiration of access and connection permits

The project had access and connection permits at the Benejama 220 kV substation, owned by Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U., with a grid access feasibility report and reports on compliance and verification of the technical connection conditions. On September 7, 2024, Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. notified the Ministry of the expiration of those permits, in application of Royal Decree-Law 23/2020, of June 23.

The projected evacuation infrastructure comprised:

• 30 kV power lines.
• SET Benejama Colectora 30/220 kV electrical substation.
• 220 kV power line between the SET Benejama Colectora and the SET Benejama Generación 30/220 kV.
• SET Benejama Generación 30/220 kV electrical substation.
• 220 kV power line between the SET Benejama Generación and the REE Benejama 220 kV substation.

Hearing process and appeal route

On September 4, 2026, the promoter was notified of the hearing process regarding the proposal for dismissal, and on September 15, 2026, EDP Renovables España, S.L.U. expressed its agreement with the proposal received. The resolution, signed by the general director Manuel García Hernández, does not end the administrative route: an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed against it before the holder of the Secretaría de Estado de Energía within one month from the day following its notification.

The archiving of file SGIISE/PFot-393 closes a process initiated in 2020 and nullifies a 55.8 MW project that was to evacuate its energy in the provinces of Alicante and Albacete. The decision affects the landowners impacted by the plant and its lines, the involved city councils, and EDP Renovables España, S.L.U., which loses the prior authorization obtained in 2022 and sees its grid access permits expire.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Alicante, No. 188 of October 2, 2026, I. Central Administration, page 1 (official reference: document 7436).