The Decree-Law 6/2025, published on 6 September, introduces a new framework for the deployment of renewable energy projects in the Balearic Islands.
The regulation combines two measures that must be understood together: on the one hand, a temporary suspension of the possibility of promoting renewable energy projects on rural land through certain legal declarations; and, on the other, the creation of Renewable Acceleration Zones in the Balearic Islands (ZARIB), which will become the new instrument for planning and regulation. The suspension will remain in force until the ZARIB are approved and duly delimited.
What is suspended exactly?
Until the ZARIB are approved, renewable generation and stand-alone storage projects located on rural land that have not constituted the financial guarantee required under Royal Decree 1183/2020 may not request:
- The declaration of public utility provided for in Article 2.3 of Law 13/2012.
- The declaration of regional energy interest under Article 43.1, second paragraph, of Law 10/2019.
As a result, projects that have not provided the required financial guarantee are prevented from advancing administratively through these channels until the ZARIB are approved.
This measure does not affect repowering projects, hybridisation, storage necessary for the grid, or self-consumption installations.
Why this suspension?
In recent years, the Balearic Islands have seen a strong increase in renewable projects on rural land, many of them still at an early stage. This phenomenon has also generated social opposition, linked to the impact on the landscape and agricultural activity. With this measure, the Government seeks to prevent the consolidation of dispersed projects before there is a clear territorial planning framework. The suspension therefore acts as a pause until the ZARIB are defined, which will establish the criteria for an orderly deployment.
What are the ZARIB?
The Renewable Acceleration Zones are expressly defined in Decree-Law 6/2025 as geographical land areas designated by the public administrations of the Balearic Islands to promote and facilitate the development of renewable energy projects. These areas are selected based on renewable resource potential, existing infrastructure, proximity to the electricity grid, prioritisation of artificial surfaces, and environmental and social considerations.
In particular, the regulation establishes that irrigated agricultural areas, land receiving support under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and land included in the Natura 2000 network or other protected natural areas under applicable environmental regulations are excluded from the ZARIB.
Within these zones, projects will benefit from a streamlined and preferential administrative procedure, adopted with public participation and inter-administrative coordination.
In summary
Decree-Law 6/2025 establishes a transitional period of suspension of requests for declarations of public utility and regional energy interest for projects on rural land, until the ZARIB are approved. At the same time, it regulates these zones as the new planning instrument that will allow the promotion of renewable energies to be combined with the protection of the island territory.
At Araújo & Benetti we have extensive experience in Administrative, Energy and Land Use Law. We place this knowledge at the service of developers, operators and public institutions to advise them on the interpretation and application of these new measures.