The sector has been waiting for this. Spain has launched a consultation for the allocation of 1,544 MW of renewable capacity in three hubs: Narcea (Asturias), La Pereda (Asturias), and Meirama (Galicia).

These projects, coordinated between the government and local stakeholders, aim to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the closure of thermal power plants. They also promote clean energy generation, establishing environmental and social benefits.

In the Narcea hub (400 kV), 354 MW have been allocated for synchronous electricity generation modules and another 354 MW for electrical park modules, totaling 708 MW. This tender is part of the Just Transition Strategy and covers municipalities in the southwestern Asturias region, with the goal of revitalizing an area affected by the closure of a local thermal power plant in 2020.

In the La Pereda hub (220 kV), located in the Caudal Valley, a capacity of 74 MW for renewable energy is enabled, along with 214 MW allocated for storage. This project highlights the importance of promoting sustainable development in communities that faced the closure of coal facilities.

Finally, in the Meirama hub (220 kV), in Cerceda, Galicia, 561 MW are enabled (408 MW for synchronous modules and 153 MW for electrical parks). This hub, considered strategic due to its connection to Galician wind plans, represents a key pillar in the region’s energy transition.

A model aimed at being inclusive and sustainable

The design of these tenders prioritizes renewable projects that generate a positive socioeconomic impact, including job creation and mitigation of depopulation in affected areas. The tenders include strict criteria to ensure the technical and environmental viability of the facilities, in addition to promoting a positive impact on local communities.

Specifically, the winning developers will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the environmental and social commitments presented in the proposals, under the supervision of the Institute for Just Transition. Additionally, financial guarantees of up to 120 €/kW installed have been established, aiming to protect the fulfillment of the set objectives.

These initiatives not only seek to boost clean energy production but also promote social inclusion and environmental sustainability. For example, the Narcea hub will allow 20% of the installations to be located in neighboring municipalities, ensuring proper integration into the territory.

Public consultation deadlines and business participation

Each tender includes public consultation phases and opportunities to rectify or correct technical information. Interested entities and applying companies have a maximum of 10 business days to submit comments or clarify any technical aspects requested by the evaluators. Furthermore, all information used in the evaluation will be made public once the tender is resolved, except for data declared confidential by the participants.

With this ambitious plan, Spain consolidates its leadership in meeting the objectives of the PNIEC 2021-2030, while strengthening its commitment to a just and inclusive energy transition.