The data tells a clear story. According to official records managed by the General Directorate of Energy and Mining, 231 solar installation files have been processed in the Valencian Community over the past five years, totaling 2,761 megawatts of potential capacity. Of these, 18 projects with 152 megawatts are currently operational, 55 are permitted but still under construction, and 82 applications were rejected. An additional 69 projects had beneficiaries who abandoned or withdrew permits, while seven remained under prior consultations.
In the Alicante province alone, 74 cases have been resolved, representing 899 megawatts of capacity. Only five projects totaling 44 megawatts became a reality, while 25 projects remain under construction. A further 25 applications were rejected, 18 were withdrawn, and one remained in the early consultation stage. These patterns reflect a broader slowdown in deployment during certain administrative periods.
These procedures were largely carried out during the Botànic administration, when demand surged and file resolution often lagged. That pace left the Valencian Community trailing other regions in renewable energy deployment. Disagreements among departments, such as Territorio led by PSPV and Ecological Transition and Economy led by Compromís, contributed to delays. One of the arguments cited in the dismissal of Mireia Mollà as Minister of Ecological Transition pointed to these bottlenecks.
Consell gears up to unblock 350 solar farms stuck since 2020
Be that as it may, the current government under Carlos Mazón has taken on the task of unblocking the accumulated files. Presently, 415 projects are in operation with a combined capacity of 5,547 megawatts, of which 149 projects (1,967 megawatts) are located in the Alicante region. The Generalitat handles project processing up to 50 megawatts; above that threshold, responsibility passes to the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Among the files under review, urgent cases include three projects in Alicante nearing 50 megawatts in scale.
Manuel Argüelles, General Manager of Energy and Mining, stated that the new administration will strive to accelerate the processing of solar plant files and improve coordination across departments. He emphasized that the government aims to resolve outstanding issues well before deadlines and that a whole-of-government approach is needed, with renewables playing a central role in energy strategy. He added that stronger human resources and better interdepartmental collaboration will be introduced to speed up approvals and reduce procedural delays.
In this phase, proposals to reduce municipal drag on licensed facilities will be pursued, and the promotion of self-consumption and energy communities will continue to be encouraged. The administration expects that increased staffing and streamlined processes will shorten approval times, allowing more projects to move from paper to power and helping the region maintain momentum in renewable energy expansion. This shift aligns with wider national and provincial objectives to diversify energy supply, improve grid resilience, and offer cleaner energy options for communities across the Valencian Community.
Cited figures and statements reflect ongoing efforts to balance regulatory oversight with the urgency of deploying solar capacity. As new project plans advance, stakeholders anticipate fewer delays, greater transparency in decision timelines, and a clearer path from permit to construction to operation. The overarching goal remains clear: accelerate renewable energy development while maintaining robust environmental and community safeguards, ensuring a dependable transition to a lower-carbon energy mix across the region. [Fuente: Dirección General de Energía y Minería, informes oficiales, educación y transición energética]n