en.Wedoany.com Reported - Red Eléctrica, in its monthly update of available connection capacity statistics for substations, has shown approximately 12 gigawatts (GW) of new connection capacity for electricity consumption projects in the distribution network. This scale could alleviate a major bottleneck for large industrial users, data centers, and electrification projects in Spain. The system operator had previously reported that 1,040 MW of capacity was freed up in the transmission network due to the abandonment of 16 connection permits, but the capacity emerging in the distribution network is far larger.
Red Eléctrica denies that this capacity increase is related to any special circumstances. Company sources stated that, in addition to abandonments caused by the new regulatory framework, monthly data fluctuations also result from common reasons, such as permits expiring because projects fail to meet administrative milestones. Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico) noted that the newly available capacity could be due to various factors, including the unfreezing of capacity from project abandonments, the disappearance of node reserves, or agreements between transmission and distribution operators. The ministry stated that capacity allocation will follow standard procedures but will incorporate priorities granted to certain projects by regulations, such as those related to housing or expansions of existing electricity consumption.
Analysis by Temos AI suggests that Order TED/82/2026 (Orden TED/82/2026), which tightened technical requirements for voltage dips, forced a recalculation of dynamic connection standards. This recalculation increased the available consumption connection margin in 48 nodes of the Cantabrian Corridor (corredor cantábrico) from 11,832 MW to 21,498 MW between Red Eléctrica's data from May 4 and June 1, and the storage connection margin from 19,410 MW to 41,398 MW. The platform describes this as capacity emerging due to a calculation review. On June 3, Red Eléctrica reclassified this capacity as non-grantable under Article 13.6 of Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 (Real Decreto-ley 7/2026), but Royal Decree-Law 18/2026 (Real Decreto-ley 18/2026) repealed that article, rendering this reservation void after just one month. In the data published on July 1, available capacity reappeared at these nodes, with 22,970 MW for consumption and 45,290 MW for storage. Temos AI states that the recalculation process expanded from the Cantabrian Corridor to the Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana) and Andalusia (Andalucía) in July, with new developments also appearing in Murcia, Galicia, and Catalonia (Cataluña).
Data collected by Orka Energía shows that between June and July, CEP consumption capacity increased by 12,405 MW, non-CEP categories increased by 20,882 MW, and both MPE and MGES storage capacities increased by 32,424 MW. The report states that the net capacity released during this period was 98,135 MW, but it was concentrated in a few facilities: only 108 substations recorded an increase, while 492 remained unchanged. Key growth points included the Villanueva del Rey 400, Vitoria 400, and Fuente de Cantos 400 substations.
The next step will be the reallocation of this capacity. Regulations stipulate that abandonments exceeding 5 MW should first be reserved for new applications. After Red Eléctrica submits the information to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the State Secretariat for Energy (Secretaría de Estado de Energía) will publish the final list of nodes and available capacity within one month. This will be followed by a four-month period for submitting applications, which will be evaluated and prioritized according to criteria set by the government.
