Ecological Transition authorizes the Cuevas BESS battery in La Vall d'Uixó

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has granted Soner Picasso, S.L.U. the prior administrative authorization for the BESS Cuevas battery storage plant, with an installed capacity of 55.176 MW, and its evacuation infrastructure, in the municipality of La Vall d’Uixó, in the province of Castellón. The resolution, signed by the Director General for Energy Policy and Mines, Manuel García Hernández, on September 7, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Castellón number 117, of September 29, 2026, with the reference SEE/DGPEM/SGIISE/Resolution ALM-024 (AAP) and file number 04029-2026. The file was processed at the Industry and Energy Department of the Government Sub-delegation in Castellón.

The promoter requested the authorization on March 19, 2024, corrected the request on September 18, 2024, and modified it on October 25, 2024, with a supplement on November 4, 2024. The processing was governed by Royal Decree 1955/2000, of December 1, and by Law 21/2013, of December 9, on environmental assessment, in accordance with the provisions of Law 24/2013, of December 26, of the Electricity Sector, and Royal Decree 997/2025, of November 5, which defines installed capacity for authorization purposes.

The project underwent public consultation with publication on February 13, 2026, in the Official State Gazette (correction of errors on February 28, 2026) and on February 19, 2026, in the Official Gazette of the Province of Castellón (correction of errors on March 19, 2026). One allegation was received, and the Industry and Energy Department issued a report on June 8, 2026. The Environmental Impact Report was finalized via a resolution dated August 1, 2025, from the Directorate General for Quality and Environmental Assessment, published in the Official State Gazette number 192, of August 11, 2025, which concluded that it was not necessary to subject the project to an ordinary environmental assessment.

Technical characteristics of the plant

• Storage type: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4).
• Installed capacity: 55.176 MW, according to article 5 of Royal Decree 997/2025.
• 44 containers, model Sungrow PowerTitan 2.0 ST5015UX, of 1,254 kW per unit, with 12 battery racks each.
• Battery system duration: 4 hours; storage capacity: 220.704 MWh.
• 264 PCS modules (Sungrow SC210HX) of 210 kW each, with 55.44 MW in inverters.
• Eleven transformer stations of 5,500 kW (Sungrow MVS5140-LS), 60.5 MW in total, and a maximum active transformer capacity of 75 MW.
• Access capacity granted by Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U.: 55 MW for generation and 55 MW for consumption.

Evacuation infrastructure

• Underground power lines at 30 kV connecting the battery transformation centers with the plant’s Protection and Measurement Center.
• A 30 kV line of approximately 69 meters to the collector substation SET Colectora Promotores Cuevas 30/220 kV, with a 65/75 MVA transformer.
• An underground evacuation line at 220 kV of 390 meters to the Vall d’Uixó 220 kV substation, owned by Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U.
• On April 1, 2025, Soner Picasso, S.L.U., Julben Solar, S.L., and Vadux Solar, S.L. signed an agreement for joint and coordinated evacuation at the Vall d’Uixó 220 kV substation.

Reports, conditions, and deadlines

• Reports with conditions were issued by the Territory Risk Management Service of the Generalitat Valenciana, Telefónica de España, S.A.U., the Directorate General of Natural and Animal Environment, I-DE Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes, S.A.U., and Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U.
• The Landscape Service of the Generalitat issued an initial conditional report and, following the correction of the Landscape Integration Study, a second favorable report.
• The City Council of La Vall d’Uixó concluded the urban and environmental compatibility of the project, conditional upon the granting of occupation of the municipal public domain and the adaptation of roads.
• The Irrigators’ Community of La Vall d’Uixó submitted an unfavorable report and demanded an agreement, which the developer submitted signed.
• The Third Vice-Presidency and Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery, the Directorate General of Energy and Mines, the Pozo San Pedro Irrigators’ Community, and the Perdiz Hunters’ Society did not respond.
• The Environmental Impact Report requires archaeological prospecting, an acoustic study, air quality measures, and forest fire prevention.
• The developer has three months to justify whether the conditions reduce the power and to request construction authorization; otherwise, the authorization will expire.
• Against the resolution, which does not exhaust administrative remedies, an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed before the Secretary of State for Energy within one month.

The authorization enables the construction of a large-scale storage facility in the Plana Baixa region, a preliminary step to the construction authorization and the declaration of public utility. The project affects landowners and the Irrigators’ Community due to the layout of the lines, and reinforces the role of La Vall d’Uixó as a connection node to the 220 kV transmission network.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Castellón, number 117, of September 29, 2026, General State Administration, file 04029-2026 (official reference: SEE/DGPEM/SGIISE/Resolution ALM-024 (AAP)).