Adif, the Spanish railway infrastructure manager, has announced a €1.33 billion tender aimed at securing a 100% renewable electricity supply for the country’s rail network between 2026 and 2030. This initiative will enable rail operators in Spain to access fully renewable energy while also offering improved pricing structures.
The tender retains the framework of previous energy contracts but introduces new tools designed to help rail operators manage their energy costs and risks more effectively. Notably, Adif will handle grid access fees directly with utility companies, eliminating the burden from the rail operators.
All energy suppliers participating in the tender must submit indexed pass-through price offers. This arrangement allows operators to hedge their electricity costs either partially or fully, choosing from flexible timeframes—monthly, quarterly, or annually—based on their specific needs.
Adif will evaluate bids from suppliers and select three leading contenders based on competitiveness. Once chosen, Adif will negotiate terms to secure favorable pricing for the rail operators through market-driven contracts.
The new procurement strategy incorporates a pricing model that ties final costs to actual energy usage, OMIE market rates, and balancing services, with optional hedging through the OMIP platform. To further mitigate price volatility, Adif has divided electricity delivery points into 16 geographic lots. This grouping allows rail companies to optimize their hedge strategies according to liquidity periods in the OMIP market, ensuring they can time their contracts for the best possible pricing.
In terms of energy consumption, traction energy usage on Adif and Adif AV lines reached 2.76 TWh in 2024, with a slight increase expected to 2.79 TWh in 2025, driven by higher rail activity. All electricity supplied under this tender will be renewable and backed by Guarantees of Origin, aligning with Adif’s Climate Change Action Plan for 2018-2030 and supporting Spain’s goals for carbon-neutral transport.
By adopting this transparent and adaptive energy procurement model, Adif aims to empower rail operators to manage their energy expenses effectively while ensuring that Spain’s rail network transitions to 100% renewable power.
