HeDecree-law 6/2025, published on September 6, introduces a new framework for the deployment of renewable energy projects in the Balearic Islands.
The standard combines two measures that must be understood together: on the one hand, it establishes atemporary suspensionthe possibility of promoting renewable energy projects on rural land through certain legal declarations; and, on the other hand, it provides for thecreation of the Renewable Acceleration Zones in the Balearic Islands (ZARIB), which will be the new planning and management instrument for this type of projects. The suspension operates precisely until the ZARIB are approved and duly delimited.
What exactly is suspended?
Until the ZARIBs are approved, renewable generation and independent storage projects (stand alone) on rural land that would not have constituted the economic guarantee provided for in theRD 1183/2020They will not be able to request:
- Thepublic utility declarationplanned in thearticle 2.3 of Law 13/2012.
- Thedeclaration of autonomous energy interestof thearticle 43.1, second paragraph, of Law 10/2019.
In this way, projects that have not constituted the economic guarantee have their administrative progress limited until the approval of the ZARIB.
The measure does not affect repowering projects, hybridization, storage necessary for the network or self-consumption facilities.
Why this suspension?
In recent years, the Balearic Islands have experienced a strong increase in renewable projects on rural land, many of them in initial phases. This phenomenon has also generated a certain social contestation, linked to the impact on the landscape and agricultural activity. With this measure, the Government intends to avoid the consolidation of dispersed projects before having territorial planning. The suspension thus acts as a pause until the ZARIBs are defined, which will set the criteria for an orderly implementation.
What are ZARIBs?
TheRenewable Acceleration Zonesare expressly defined in DL 6/2025 as “terrestrial geographical areas designated by the public administrations of the Balearic Islands to promote and facilitate the development of renewable energy projects”.
These areas will be selected based on renewable resource potential, existing infrastructure, proximity to the power grid, prioritization of artificial surfaces, and environmental and social considerations.
The rule establishes that irrigated agricultural areas, areas receiving aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and land included in the Natura 2000 Network or in other natural areas protected by current environmental regulations are excluded from the delimitation of the ZARIB.
Within these zones, the projects will have asimplified and preferential processing, being approved with public participation and coordination between administrations.
In summary
DL 6/2025 establishes atemporary suspension periodof applications for declaration of public utility and autonomous energy interest for projects on rural land, until the ZARIB are approved. At the same time, it regulates these areas as the new planning instrument that will make the promotion of renewable energies compatible with the protection of the island territory.
At Araújo & Benetti we have extensive experience in Administrative, Energy and Territorial Planning Law. We make this knowledge available to promoters, operators and public institutions to advise them on the interpretation and application of these developments.
