The project, with an estimated total investment of up to 400 million euros, received environmental authorization last August and is located in the municipalities of Vélez de Benaudalla, El Pinar, Los Guájares, and Padul. The initiative aims not only to supply electricity but also to store it through a reversible system.
This system involves pumping water to an upper reservoir when there is surplus electricity on the grid and releasing it to generate power when demand increases. This storage method is supported by the Government through the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE), which has allocated 165 million euros to seven similar projects across Spain. This is the second call for applications, following an initial one of 100 million euros in 2024.
'Los Guajares' project, the only one located in Andalucía to have received aid in both calls and the most advanced in the region, has a turbine capacity of 357 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of 2,969 megawatt-hours (Mwh). It includes the construction of an 18-hectare reservoir to create a 600-meter water drop, a 20-kilometer electrical evacuation line, and three associated wind farms.
The 23 million euro incentive for 'Los Guajares' was calculated based on a subsidizable cost of 122 million euros and received a score of 68.25 from IDAE, reflecting its advanced stage of processing.
Another Andalusian project, the 'Higuera' reversible hydroelectric plant in Almería (municipalities of Berja and Balanegra), promoted by Desarrollos del Malache, did not receive funding as it did not meet the minimum required score, indicating an earlier development phase. This project is more modest, with a turbine capacity of 50 MW and a storage capacity of 600 MWh.
Competition for the funds was intense, with applications totaling 440 million euros, exceeding the available budget. Five projects were excluded due to lack of funds, two did not meet the criteria, and two were withdrawn. The successful projects are located in Asturias, Galicia, Catalonia, Extremadura, Aragon, and Andalucía.
In Andalucía, in addition to the Rules project, other reversible plants are under consultation, including Negratín (Granada), Vélez at the Rules reservoir (opposite bank), Benínar (Almería), and Iznájar (Córdoba). Currently, two reversible hydroelectric plants managed by Endesa are operational in the region: Guillena and Tajo de la Encantada in Alora.
