New Energy Plan Clears Key Hurdle
The relocation of the Collblanc electrical substation to Can Rigalt is scheduled for 2030, following the approval of a new electrical infrastructure plan by the Generalitat on Thursday 12th November 2026. This move is a crucial step in enabling the urban redevelopment of the area and the construction of the future Campus Clínic, a major strategic project spanning Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The plan, executed by Red Eléctrica, ensures power supply for the new hospital campus by 2028 through the expansion of the Facultats substation in Barcelona’s Les Corts district. That expansion will include a new 220-kilovolt (kV) electrical position and a 200-metre connection cable. However, the full transformation of the area hinges on the more complex relocation of the Collblanc substation two years later.
Urban Regeneration and Shared Benefits
The current substation, located in L'Hospitalet, has long been seen as a physical and symbolic barrier. Its removal will free up approximately 40,000 square metres of land for housing, sports facilities and an educational centre. Mayor David Quirós of L'Hospitalet welcomed the decision, stating it would break down a historic barrier and represent a collective success. The future Campus Clínic will include over 1,000 homes, offices, research facilities and the new University of Barcelona Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences in Esplugues. Sustainable mobility is central to the plan, with a new Metro Line 3 station, improved pedestrian and cycle routes, and reorganisation of the Avinguda Diagonal and Ronda de Dalt interchange.
Financing Still to Be Secured
Despite the 2030 timeline, the project remains conditional on securing funding and completing legal procedures. Previous estimates placed the cost of relocating the substation at around €60 million, though no updated figure has been released. The Campus Clínic Consortium expects a feasibility report by the end of 2026 to clarify financial and technical details. Funding is expected to come from multiple parties, including Metropolitan House, the main landowner after acquiring former FC Barcelona land, the L'Hospitalet City Council, and other smaller landowners. Mayor Quirós has argued that since the benefits are shared across municipalities, so too should the financial burden.
We are talking about a service for the entire project. Therefore, placing the economic burden solely on the owners of the Can Rigalt part of L'Hospitalet makes no sense.
Technical Scope of the Project
The new 220 kV substation at Can Rigalt, on land bordering L'Hospitalet and Barcelona, will occupy about a quarter of the current Collblanc site. It will feature ten electrical positions, four for distribution and six for transmission, and require rerouting circuits from Begues, Can Jardí, Facultats and Urgell, which currently connect to Collblanc. Once operational, the old substation will be decommissioned. The move is considered the most complex part of the energy plan due to its technical, economic and urban impact. While the 2030 date provides a clear target, final execution depends on resolving financing and obtaining all necessary authorisations.
Sources: El Periódico, clinicbarcelona.org.
