Spain builds

Weekly Infrastructure & Industrial Intelligence

Editor’s Note

Welcome to issue three of Spain Builds: the direct-to-your-inbox, weekly briefing on the transport, logistics, and green energy infrastructure transforming the Iberian peninsula.

Let’s dive in.

OPEN TENDERS

Rail Infrastructure: Gandia Commuter Network Electrical Substation

Issuing Entity: ADIF Estimated Value: €6,462,516 The Scope: Execution of works for the construction project of the new Gandía electric traction substation and the construction project of the grid connection line between the Iberdrola Gandía substation and the new Gandía ADIF substation. Bidding Deadline: 14 July 2026 Official Tender Record: View Tender

Port Logistics: Ceuta Port Security System Upgrade

Issuing Entity: Presidencia de la Autoridad Portuaria de Ceuta Estimate Value: €1.27 Million The Scope: Maintenance services for the comprehensive security and surveillance systems across the Port of Ceuta infrastructure network. Bidding Deadline: 6 July 2026 Official Tender Record View Tender

Need a customised tender pipeline for your sector? I provide bespoke contract tracking lists filtered by industry, region, and budget across Spain. [Request a quote today].

PUBLIC INVESTMENT

Catalan Government promotes €1.8 billion mobility infrastructure package

The Catalan Government has reviewed an initial €1.8 billion package aimed at accelerating strategic mobility infrastructure through public-private partnerships. This funding model is projected to mobilise a total of €3.3 billion over six years to execute essential works that would otherwise take two decades. According to spokeswoman Sílvia Paneque, the goal is to begin construction by late 2027. Priority projects include building stations for the central section of Barcelona Metro’s Line 9, upgrading the Berga-Bagà road to a dual carriageway, and rolling out 2+1 road configurations across key regional transport corridors to improve safety and connectivity.

Primary Source [Govern.cat]

Green Light For Inditex Campus And New Alcampo In Sant Adrià

The Sant Adrià de Besòs Town Council has provisionally approved the Urban Improvement Plan to drive forward the future Inditex corporate campus and the redevelopment of the Alcampo shopping centre in Sant Joan Baptista. The project now progresses to the Generalitat for final validation. The scheme involves establishing headquarters for four prominent Inditex group brands (Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Oysho, and Lefties) alongside a more compact, community-integrated Alcampo store. The operation also includes redeveloping Avinguda de la Platja, decontaminating industrial soils, and restoring the historic CELO chimney, integrating into the coastal transformation alongside the Catalunya Media City.

Primary Source [Metropoli Abierta]

Spanish Government Approves €719 Million For Tarragona AI Gigafactory

The Council of Ministers has authorised a €719 million investment through the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT) into a public-private consortium developing an artificial intelligence gigafactory in Móra la Nova (Tarragona). The project, awaiting an upcoming European Commission call, aims to secure European access to advanced computing. Minister for Digital Transformation Óscar López highlighted the investment as a strategic commitment to technological sovereignty, reindustrialisation, and sustainable AI leadership. The Spanish state will hold a 48% stake in the infrastructure, which is designed to help local businesses innovate faster, support scientific research, and deliver secure public services.

Primary Source [Expansión]

ENERGY TRANSITION

Catalonia To Slash Wind Turbine Numbers While Boosting Output By 31%

The Consell Executiu has analysed the “Renovación de parcs eòlics” report, projecting a major energy modernisation scheme over the coming decade as 46 of Catalonia’s 52 wind farms reach the end of their operational lifespan. By replacing obsolete turbines with cutting-edge technology —upgrading from under 1 MW to roughly 6 MW per unit — the total number of wind turbines will drop drastically from 756 to just 240. Despite removing 516 individual mills, clean energy production is set to increase by 31%, reaching 3,244 GWh annually, whilst significantly mitigating the visual and environmental footprint on the landscape.

Primary Source:  [Govern.cat]

Success For Wärtsilä In Testing The First Grid-Connected 100% Hydrogen Engine

Finnish engineering multinational Wärtsilä has successfully operated the world’s first large-scale combustion engine running entirely on green hydrogen while connected to an active power grid. The technological milestone was achieved at its facility in Bermeo (Biscay), where the newly developed Wärtsilä 31H2 engine supplied electricity to the Spanish national grid under real operational conditions. This trial marks a critical advancement over previous blend-ready technologies, proving that high-efficiency thermal engines can convert stored green hydrogen into flexible power generation, offering reliable, carbon-free balancing capacity to support electricity grids that rely heavily on intermittent renewable energy sources.

Context: See why Spain is investing billions in green hydrogen.

Primary Source:  [PV Magazine]

Global funds circle Acciona Energía in potential €11 billion buyout

Major international infrastructure funds, including BlackRock, Brookfield, KKR, and Blackstone, are forming consortia to bid for Acciona Energía. The renewable energy division of the Entrecanales family is valued at approximately €11 billion, including debt. Advised by Citi and Goldman Sachs, Acciona is exploring strategic options — including a full buyout and delisting — to cut debt and fund large-scale global infrastructure projects. Non-binding offers for the 91% stake are expected in late July. Driven by merchant market volatility, the company is concurrently executing a major asset rotation plan, aiming to divest an additional 1,500 MW across Spain and Canada.

Primary Source: [Expansión]

Context: To understand how this impacts storage deployment, read this deep dive: BESS Investment in Spain: Lessons from the 2025 Blackout.

LOGISTICS

Barcelona and Shanghai strengthen strategic port cooperation agreement

The ports of Barcelona and Shanghai have officially reaffirmed their “sister ports” status by signing a new strategic cooperation agreement designed to deepen operational and logistics ties. Endorsed by representatives from both port authorities and the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the alliance will focus closely on key sectors including digitalisation, maritime safety, and the optimisation of intermodal logistics. Furthermore, the pact ensures continuity for initiatives launched last year to develop the Green Shipping and Digital Corridor, fostering highly sustainable maritime trade routes and the adoption of alternative fuels between the Far East and the Mediterranean region.

Primary Source: [El Mercantil]

Port of Bilbao consolidates position in Liverpool as a key UK logistics partner

An institutional and commercial delegation from the Port of Bilbao has travelled to Liverpool to strengthen logistics links with the United Kingdom, consolidating the Basque infrastructure as an essential strategic hub for British trade flows. During meetings with local operators, the delegation highlighted Bilbao’s competitive advantages, focusing on maritime connectivity, advanced intermodal freight services, and supply chain efficiency. The UK market remains historically one of the primary commercial trading partners for the Bilbao enclave, which currently aims to enhance these maritime motorways through highly agile, competitive customs solutions tailored to the demands of the current international trade environment.

Primary Source: [Empresa Exterior]

Terminal Marítima de Zaragoza opens expansion to boost capacity by 50%

The Terminal Marítima de Zaragoza (tmZ), a premier inland rail-port hub backed by the Port of Barcelona, Mercazaragoza, and the Government of Aragón, has officially inaugurated its €10.5 million expansion. The upgrade increases surface area by 50,000 square metres, expands rail tracks to one kilometre, and transitions tmZ into a pass-through terminal to eliminate turnaround manoeuvres. Following a record 85,418 intermodal transport units handled in 2025, the expansion boosts storage capacity by 50%. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the facility solidifies its status as the leading intermodal container logistics node in Southern Europe.

Primary Source: [Expansión]

That’s it for today. Until next week!

Dave