Spain has taken a significant step to bolster the energy transition by preselecting 143 storage projects which will receive a provisional allocation of €839,7 million from the 2021-2027 ERDF. The unusual volume of proposals received has necessitated an increase in the planned allocation.
As explained by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the success of the call forced to raise by a 20% of the initial budget of 700 millionIf successful, the selected projects will total approximately 2,4 GW of associated power and 8,9 GWh of capacity, allowing for greater system flexibility and greater integration of renewables.
What is financed and with what funds
The PINALM line, managed by the IDAE and attached to MITECO, is nourished by European ERDF funds 2021-2027 to boost storage investments in various technological configurations. The goal is to strengthen security of supply and facilitate the decarbonization of the electricity mix.
Once the firm aid has been granted, the actions must be carried out within a maximum period of 36 months, with a completion date of December 31, 2029. This timeframe aims to ensure that projects begin providing services to the system as soon as possible.
The Ministry plans to approve the final resolution before the end of the year and, to speed up the implementation, the beneficiaries will be able to request advances of up to 100% of the aid, in accordance with the bases of the call.
Territorial distribution and selection process
The program design follows the principles of cohesion of the ERDF, allocating budget by autonomous communities and prioritizing less developed or transition territories. The allocation was carried out in rounds, with the files ranked according to technical score.
In the first round, projects were selected until the regional quota was exhausted; if there were surpluses, they were redistributed internally and, in the third instance, between transition areas, always respecting the initial score of each file.
Among the regions with the most notable initiatives are Andalusia (39), Catalonia (17) y Valencian Community (14), followed by Castile-La Mancha (11), Estremadura (11) y Galician (10), data that demonstrate a significant territorial capillarity of the program.
Technologies and magnitudes of deployment
The call has preselected a wide range of technologies: hybrid storage (81 files), standalone batteries (42), thermal storage (17) y pumping (3)This diversity allows for addressing different energy management and grid service needs.
The project package would together provide about 2,4 GW power and 8,9GWh capacity, helping to stabilize the system, reduce renewable energy spills, and improve coverage during times of lower wind or solar production, with a positive impact on prices and emissions.
Synergies with previous programs and industrial effect
These ERDF grants are in addition to the actions financed with funds NextGenerationEU (PRTR), which have already mobilized 730 million euros for hybrid storage, standalone systems, thermal solutions and reversible pumping, as well as R&D lines and island operations.
Strengthening storage not only accelerates the decarbonization of the electricity system, it also boosts the European industrial fabric linked to equipment, components and services, following the path of maturity achieved by wind and photovoltaic energy in Spain.
Next steps and operational schedule
With the provisional resolution already known, the focus shifts to the final processing, to the contracts and supplies already underway. The timeframe until 2029 requires rigorous planning to meet milestones and ensure the operational entry of each facility.
When operational, these systems will provide flexibility, regulatory capacity and stability services, reinforcing the alignment with the NECP and with the strategy REPowerEU to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and optimize energy costs.
The decision to preselect 143 projects for 839,7 million represents a clear boost to storage in Spain, with transparent distribution criteria, a demanding schedule and a varied technological mix that allows for accelerating renewable integration and strengthening the system's resilience.
