• This agreement will promote the integration of renewable energy sources of the autonomous community into the national electricity system
• The Chairman of Red Eléctrica de España has spoken about the investment of 250 million euros in the 400 kV Almaraz-Guillena (Seville) line, that links, from north to south, the interconnections of Extremadura and Andalusia with Portugal 

The President of the Extremadura Government, José Antonio Monago, and the Chairman of Red Eléctrica de España, José Folgado, this morning signed a collaboration agreement to promote the development of new electricity transmission facilities in Extremadura, and in particular, those that improve the system's capacity to integrate the largest possible amount of new generation, especially that which comes from renewable sources, as well as all those that favour business development which trigger employment or innovative processes.

Under the framework of this agreement, the Chairman of Red Eléctrica has highlighted the investment of 250 million euros in the construction of the Almaraz-Guillena (Seville) axis, a 400 kV line which is 350 km long and will link, from north to south, the interconnections of Extremadura and Andalusia with Portugal in order to strengthen the transmission grid of these two autonomous communities.

In the protocol signed, which will run for two years, it establishes that both entities will agree on the location of new substations, or the expansion of existing ones, and define new electricity line corridors.

The Extremadura Government and Red Eléctrica de España also undertake to collaborate with each other on the development of the regulation at the regional and state level to facilitate and promote the integration of renewable energy into the electricity system.

This agreement will also enable collaboration between the regional government and Red Eléctrica to learn about the issues and specific challenges regarding the integration of generation, planning and grid development.

In this respect, a joint monitoring committee has been set up along with three working groups, one that deals with the issues related to planning, access and connection to the grid, a second that will deal with the permitting process and monitor the construction works, and a third that will be dedicated to coordinating the activities regarding fire fighting and prevention, especially when carrying out maintenance work on electricity lines as required by law.

Finally, the agreement contemplates contacts with other partners and promotes awareness of the public, interest groups and sectors of the Government regarding the needs of the electricity system.