Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has awarded Coventina Renovables the rights to connect a 408MW pumped storage hydropower project to the transmission network using grid capacity released by the closure of the former Meirama coal-fired power plant in Galicia.

The award follows a competitive tender process run by the Institute for Just Transition (ITJ), which allocates grid access based on environmental performance and socio-economic benefits for communities affected by the closure of the former Meirama coal-fired power plant. The transition area includes the municipalities of Carral, Cerceda, A Laracha, Ordes and Tordoia.

According to MITECO, the project is associated with more than €400 million of investment and a commitment to create and maintain the equivalent of 1,067.5 full-time jobs over at least 10 years. Around 180 jobs are expected to be linked directly to the operation and maintenance of the pumped storage plant, business development initiatives and environmental improvement projects around Lake As Encrobas.

Coventina Renovables has also committed to delivering vocational training programmes for 450 local residents, providing a total of 67,500 training hours, and installing 2MW of rooftop and municipal solar self-consumption capacity.

The company has lodged a €52.8 million guarantee to secure delivery of its socio-economic and environmental commitments.

The project must still obtain the necessary environmental and administrative approvals. It has also been proposed to receive €30 million under MITECO’s support programme for innovative pumped storage energy storage projects, administered by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).

MITECO said it has awarded more than €183 million to 59 projects in the Meirama and As Pontes just transition zones since 2019. The ministry has also begun preparations for a further just transition tender at Maciñeira in As Pontes.

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