Red Eléctrica, the Redeia subsidiary responsible for electricity transmission and system operation in Spain, has completed the new 220 kV substation in Calera y Chozas. This facility, which will be commissioned tomorrow, will be essential to enabling the development of major business projects with a strong technological component, reinforcing the region’s productive fabric. It will also serve as a driver of territorial cohesion by supplying electricity to the future railway line connecting the region with Extremadura.

These benefits were highlighted today during the inauguration of the facility by Redeia’s Chairwoman, Beatriz Corredor, and the president of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page. The event was also attended by the mayor of Calera y Chozas, Gabriel López-Colina, and the mayor of Talavera de la Reina, José Julián Gregorio, among other authorities and guests. 

Corredor emphasised that ‘this new substation reflects Red Eléctrica’s commitment to Toledo and to Castile-La Mancha. It also exemplifies how the ecological transition—and, more specifically, renewable energy—boosts the competitiveness of our region and attracts new investment, jobs, and development. Castile-La Mancha can continue to count on Red Eléctrica.’

Emiliano García-Page, president of the Regional Government of Castile-La Mancha, stated that ‘the new substation is of vital importance, as it lies along what is set to become the Iberian Peninsula’s most clearly defined development axis: the A5 corridor.’ He added that the region already has ‘waiting lists of companies looking to set up operations. These are the kinds of waiting lists one wants to have. We have many companies that are eager to come, but they need infrastructure.’ He underscored the importance of transmission grid developments: ‘this is an investment the country cannot afford to delay.’

A project for the future

Red Eléctrica has invested €10.8 million in this project, which includes a new 220 kV substation with nine bays. It also involves an overhead line connecting the substation to the transmission grid via the Almaraz–Talavera 220 kV transmission corridor. These new developments are part of the current electricity system Planning and are essential to meeting Castile-La Mancha’s needs in various areas. On the one hand, they enable the development of strategic projects and promote economic growth, as four of the nine bays are designated to meet the electricity demand of high-consumption companies linked to new technologies. On the other hand, they contribute to positioning Castile-La Mancha as a major logistics hub in Spain through the electrification of the planned railway line Toledo–Navalmoral–Cáceres–Badajoz.

Development of the electricity transmission grid in Castile-La Mancha

The 220 kV in Calera y Chozas project is part of a broader set of developments being carried out by Red Eléctrica to provide Castile-La Mancha with a more robust, meshed, and sustainable electricity transmission grid. To this end, the current electricity system Planning includes significant transmission grid meshing actions aimed at connecting the territory and promoting its social and economic development, while also enabling the integration of new renewable energy generation capacity and supplying the new high-speed rail lines crossing the region: Madrid–Badajoz and Puertollano–Mérida.

Castile-La Mancha continues to make strong progress toward consolidating its position as a national leader in renewable energy, thanks to a series of strategic developments in the electricity transmission grid. These efforts have enabled the region to become Spain’s second-largest in terms of renewable energy generation share, with 84.9% of its energy mix coming from renewables, according to the most recent annual data. The region continues to advance along this path with the support of Red Eléctrica, which, in cooperation with relevant public administrations and stakeholders, is moving forward with the execution of planned infrastructure.

In addition to commissioning new essential infrastructure, Red Eléctrica also seeks to generate a positive impact on the territory. In recent years, the company has implemented initiatives—primarily focused on energy efficiency—in 44 municipalities across Castile-La Mancha, with a total investment of over €2.7 million. In the specific case of Calera y Chozas, Red Eléctrica is working with the local council to install solar panels for self-consumption at a water treatment plant, a key project to help reduce municipal expenses. Likewise, Red Eléctrica, together with the regional Government, has also digitalised Castile-La Mancha’s cultural heritage inventory.