Spain authorises construction of 356.93 MW Los Guájares pumped-storage plant in Granada
- Plant to store 1.47 GWh, run up to 6 hours
- Turbine capacity raised from application's 339.95 MW
- Final operating authorisation for testing due by June 24, 2032
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - MKBamWhat changed The resolution authorises the plant at a turbine capacity of 356.93 MW and a pumping capacity of 363.99 MW, up from the 339.95 MW and down from the 403.52 MW in the original application.
MADRID, Sept 16 — Spain's Directorate General for Energy Policy and Mines on Sept 16 granted Hidroeléctrica Los Guájares, SLU prior and construction authorisation for the Los Guájares reversible hydraulic plant in Granada, with a turbine capacity of 356.93 MW and a pumping capacity of 363.99 MW.
The authorisation also covers the plant's evacuation infrastructure, including the "CHR Los Guájares" substation and a 220 kV line to the SET Mizán substation, in the municipalities of Vélez de Benaudalla, El Pinar and Los Guájares, according to the resolution.
The plant will store 1.47 GWh of energy, with a maximum continuous turbine time of six hours and a maximum gross head of 638 m, the resolution said. It will use the Rules reservoir as its lower reservoir and an upper reservoir with a capacity of 1.4 hm3.
A revised project raised the turbine flow to 66.24 m3/s from 65.0 m3/s and cut the pumping flow to 50.30 m3/s from 55.0 m3/s, the resolution said.
Under the resolution, the total period to obtain the operating authorisation may not exceed 12 years from the date the access and connection permits were obtained. A resolution dated July 21, 2025 extended to June 24, 2032 the deadline for the milestone of obtaining the final operating authorisation for testing.
Before work begins, the developer must meet conditions set in the environmental impact statement, including a fauna survey, a flora inventory and archaeological controls, according to the resolution.
The resolution can be appealed to the Secretary of State for Energy within one month.
Villar Mir Energía, SLU applied on Dec 23, 2020, and requested on Sept 1, 2025 that the developer's name be changed to Hidroeléctrica Los Guájares, SLU. A favourable environmental impact statement was issued on Aug 12, 2025.