Red Eléctrica, the subsidiary of Redeia responsible for the transmission and operation of the electricity system in Spain, has begun development of the Nuevo Meco 220 kV substation in the Comunidad de Madrid. This is a strategic infrastructure for the region, as it will enable the rollout of major business projects through reliable electricity supply, thereby contributing to economic growth in the Comunidad de Madrid.

The new substation consists of an outdoor 220 kV switchyard, as well as the double-circuit 220 kV lines Arroyo de la Vega–Nuevo Meco and Nuevo Meco–Meco, which will connect the substation to the transmission grid. All of this infrastructure will help strengthen the meshing of the transmission grid.

To mark the start of construction, a site visit was attended by, among others, the deputy minister for Environment, Agriculture and Spatial Planning of the Comunidad de Madrid, Rafael García González; the general director for Ecological Transition and Circular Economy, Cristina Aparicio; the deputy mayor of Meco, Laura Martín Notario; Red Eléctrica’s general director of Transmission, Ángel Mahou; and Redeia’s regional manager, Roberto Arranz.

Strategic investments in the Comunidad de Madrid

This investment effort adds to other strategic projects currently being carried out by Red Eléctrica, as well as assets already in service, representing a total investment to date of €205 million under the current Grid Plan.

Specifically, Red Eléctrica is undertaking investments to expand and upgrade the region’s transmission grid, with the aim of attracting new investment, improving quality of supply, and advancing the region’s ecological transition. 

In this context, Red Eléctrica is also working on the development of the new Cisneros 220 kV substation. This will be a gas-insulated substation housed within a building, reducing the space required and improving its integration into the surrounding environment, while minimising noise and visual impact. The new substation will also help meet demand from large energy consumers linked to new business investment projects, while supporting the distribution network. Finally, it will enable the integration of renewable energy into the system, contributing to decarbonisation. The project includes an in-and-out connection to the Arroyo de la Vega–Meco 220 kV line to link it to the transmission grid.

Alongside the Nuevo Meco and Cisneros substations, Red Eléctrica is also building four additional substations in the Comunidad de Madrid. These will be key to strengthening grid meshing, reinforcing electricity supply for households, businesses and new urban developments by supporting the distribution network, supplying power to railway corridors and enabling renewable integration. These are the Complutum 220 kV, Fuente de Hito 220 kV, Anchuelo 220 kV and Torrejón de Velasco 400 kV substations. The latter is included in the list of projects eligible for funding under the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

In addition, the company has recently completed all administrative procedures after securing the necessary approvals for the modification of the 400 kV double-circuit Moraleja–Villaviciosa and Morata–Villaviciosa lines. This project includes both an increase in transmission capacity and a rerouting in the Arroyomolinos section. This highly anticipated project will make it possible to redesign the route of the line to avoid areas that have since been developed for urban use.

All these initiatives, together with the already completed San Fernando 400/220 kV substation, underscore Red Eléctrica’s commitment to the Comunidad de Madrid and its continued development, which was also reflected in 2025 with the commissioning of 11 substation expansions.