Vitoria-Gasteiz grants 77,000 euros to an energy community in Ariznavarra

The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council has granted a subsidy of 77,000.00 euros to the Red de Comunidades Energéticas S. Cooperativa (CIF F714540609) to finance the drafting of the technical project and the investment in a solar photovoltaic energy installation under a collective self-consumption scheme. The resolution, signed by the mayor-president Maider Etxebarria García on September 29, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) number 115, dated October 7, 2026, with the official reference 2026-02809.

The decree was issued on July 24, 2026, by the delegated councilor of the Department of City Model, Urbanism, Housing, Cleaning and Environment, under the call and the regulatory bases approved by the Local Government Board in an ordinary session on November 14, 2025. That call was endowed with 700,000.00 euros, divided between budget lines 2026/022204.1722.48067 (100,000.00 euros) and 2026/022204.1722.78005 (600,000.00 euros), and was published in BOTHA number 140, dated December 10, 2025.

Application in Ariznavarra and file verification

On March 30, 2026, the cooperative submitted an application for concepts 1, 2, and 3 within scope 1 —constitution and management of the community, drafting of the technical project, and investment in shared self-consumption solar photovoltaic energy— referring to an installation located in the Ariznavarra neighborhood.

On June 29, 2026, the head of the Sustainability, Climate and Energy Service issued a report stating that the application for concept 1 was erroneous, but that those for concepts 2 and 3 complied with the provisions of the call and included the supporting documentation. It was also verified that the entity was up to date with its obligations to the Social Security and its tax obligations to the Provincial Council of Álava and the city council itself.

Simple competition and calculation of the amount

The procedure is based on simple competition: the subsidy is granted to those who meet the requirements and submit complete documentation, up to the limit of the budget credit. The aid covers 80 percent of the eligible expenditure, excluding VAT, with caps of 7,000.00 euros for concept 2 and 70,000.00 euros for concept 3.

• Drafting of the technical project: eligible expenditure of 18,018.70 euros excluding VAT; 80 percent exceeds the maximum, therefore 7,000.00 euros are granted.
• Solar photovoltaic installation: eligible expenditure of 474,782.79 euros excluding VAT; 80 percent also exceeds the maximum, therefore 70,000.00 euros are granted.
• Total amount granted: 77,000.00 euros, charged to budget line 2026/022204.1722.78005.

Payments, obligations and appeal process

The grant is paid in two installments in accordance with point 18 of the call: a first installment of 65 percent prior to justification, already approved for 50,050.00 euros (4,550.00 for concept 2 and 45,500.00 for concept 3), and a second installment of 35 percent once the aid has been justified through the justification account provided for in point 17.

The beneficiary entity must, additionally:

• Equip the installation with a monitoring system for the electrical energy produced.
• Send annual statistical data to the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council.
• Dedicate the renewable energy installation to the purpose for which the aid was granted for at least 5 years.

Along with the regulatory bases, the General Subsidies Law 38/2003, of November 17, its regulation approved by Royal Decree 887/2006, of July 21, the municipal general subsidies ordinance, and the city council’s Strategic Subsidies Plan are applicable. Against the resolution, which exhausts the administrative route, a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the Contentious-Administrative Courts of Vitoria-Gasteiz within two months, or an optional appeal for reversal before the body that issued it within one month.

The grant reinforces the municipal commitment to energy communities as a means of collective self-consumption and neighborhood participation in renewable generation. For the residents of Ariznavarra and for the entities promoting this type of project, the resolution confirms that the aid line remains active and that applications are resolved by simple competition until the available credit is exhausted.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 115, October 7, 2026, section II - Local Administration of the Historical Territory of Álava, pág. 1-3 (official reference: 2026-02809).