The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has opened the public consultation period for the proposal for the third modification of specific aspects of the Electricity Grid Development Plan 2021-2026. This update includes an approximate investment of 607 million euros, with which an annual saving of close to 400 million euros is estimated, and which incorporates measures aimed at reducing the dependence on gas combined cycle power plants in the provision of certain technical services to the system.
As the Ministry pointed out, the system operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE), has proposed a new modification with the objective of complementing and reducing the need to resort to the technical restrictions mechanism, the disbursement for which amounted to 3,351 million in 2025.
In this way, in addition to reducing the final cost of electricity for consumers, both fossil fuel imports and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their use are reduced.
Specifically, the modification proposal includes the installation of four compensators (e-Statcom, for its acronym in English), fully integrated into the transport network, which will reinforce damping capacity against inter-area oscillations, frequent in the European electricity system. According to the system operator's calculations, these equipment will allow for savings of over 150 million euros per year.
28 new reactors to improve voltage control
The proposal also includes the incorporation of 28 reactors into the system, along with the renovation of another four existing ones, in order to optimize voltage control in the grid. According to the system operator's estimates, these actions will generate annual savings of over 250 million euros.
Likewise, various interventions in substations and positions of the transport network linked to the equipment included in the second specific Modification, approved in July 2025, are included, with the objective of addressing needs detected during advanced technical implementation work.
Consequently, this third modification focuses exclusively on actions aimed at continuing to strengthen the resilience of the electricity system, facilitating the management of energy flows between the south and north of the country, increasing the damping capacity of European oscillations, and perfecting voltage control, while reducing the bill for consumers.
The Electricity Sector Law establishes that, at least every two years, a modification of specific aspects of the current transport network development plan shall be carried out, under certain conditions, including the existence of economic efficiency reasons.
After this third modification, whose objection period will remain open until June 11, the total investment associated with the Electricity Planning with a horizon of 2026 will amount to 8,810 million euros, according to the Ministry.