In Spain, the law governing the transport, distribution, marketing and supply activities of electricity remains in force, with amounts shown in pesetas from the year 2000. This regulation has long guided industrial automation goals, including the electrification of manufacturing processes, and the idea that electric vehicles are no longer a distant dream. It is also the same legal framework the central government cited when approving the Stellantis Vigo factory through Royal Decree 1955/2000. The document does not authorize connections to the very high voltage networks that feed other automobile plants in the country, and this restriction has implications for reliability and outages.
In Madrid, the Vigo plant, operated by Ignacio Bueno, continues to rely on a network of 132 kilovolts and the associated voltage drops and micro interruptions. Looking ahead, a factory spokesperson warned that the future state could constrain industrial plans if the grid remains at those levels. The spokesperson added that if the authorities wish to engage, the plant would welcome explanations.
As FARO DE VIGO reports, a newspaper owned by the same media group as this outlet, the Ministry of Ecological Transition believes Stellantis Vigo does not need a 220 kV connection and will not revisit its site. The UVigo Department of Electrical Engineering and others point to a decree-law from twenty-two years ago as the basis for this stance, while also questioning the existence of voltage micro-interruptions highlighted in a technical study by the department’s Electrotechnical and Electrical Networks Group. The study notes a single production day lost due to instability in the network, fueling concerns about reliability. The ministry, led by Teresa Ribera, has drawn criticism from the plant management for appearing to justify a fixed position rather than fully addressing the problem. The Balaídos plant asserts that it does not meet the minimum threshold for 220 kV connection and has received an exception in other cases.
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Rule
The electricity supply law of 2000 establishes only the likelihood that energy consumers will endure more than three minutes without service. It sets a ceiling of eight interruptions per year for Stellantis, due to its urban site and the 132 kV network. The main issue is that the factory faces voltage drops and millisecond micro-interruptions not defined in the decree. A micro-cut lasting mere milliseconds can halt operations, trigger production losses, and is not accounted for in the current standard. Regulatory references reveal limited appetite for understanding today’s challenges or preparing for the needs of tomorrow, according to a Stellantis spokesperson. Irregularities in the 132 kV grid can disrupt production lines and cause damage to software and hardware, underscoring the growing importance of keeping essential equipment online. The plant urgently requires reliable supply that has not been consistently available.
An outlook that will become more pressing as automation expands and electrification of transport accelerates. Every new demand for power draws more attention to the infrastructure and its ability to support growth. The decarbonisation drive and the evolution of industrial processes toward electrification suggest that the facility will approach higher thresholds soon, a development that could constrain future plans if not addressed.
Although Madrid insists Stellantis has not met the conditions and contends that the current network is not incomplete, the government has planned a Balaídos substation in line with the Red Eléctrica 2015-2020 plan to provide a 220 kV supply, as enjoyed by other plants in Spain. The idea of moving beyond this arrangement is not currently under consideration. Stellantis Vigo has invested heavily in isolating equipment from external disturbances, including the installation of uninterruptible power supplies totaling 26 units with a 3 MVA capacity to shield vital electronic and control systems from disturbances. The overall investment exceeds six million euros, with annual costs around 300,000 euros.
Senate urges immediate correction of Ribera
Stellantis Vigo has been omitted from Red Eléctrica’s very high voltage connection planning, despite ongoing micro-interruptions that have caused vehicle losses each year. The central government’s stance is again being challenged in writing, following a Faro de Vigo report that questioned the networking adequacy. The Senate passed a motion directing the Ministry of Ecological Transition to revisit the planning for 2021-2026, with the Balaídos plant shifted toward the 132 kV network rather than the 220 kV option. The speaker, Javier Guerra, explained that the initiative received support from 14 lawmakers, including backing from regional and national parties. The proposal received cross-party support, while some groups abstained.
The decree regulating transport, distribution, marketing and supply activities pertains to the year 2000 and does not incorporate micro-interruptions or the specific site characteristics of factories. For the 2015-2020 period, the government laid out a Balaídos substation plan to equip the plant with a 220 kV supply, mirroring other major plants in Spain. Stellantis Vigo has resisted adopting the 220 kV arrangement, citing the current network as sufficient. The plant has invested heavily in isolating equipment from external issues, going beyond standard measures to protect critical operations.