We interviewed Carmen Rubio, Director of Magtel’s Engineering Division

An Industrial Engineer with nearly two decades of experience in the sector, she has built a solid career from her early days as a design engineer through to senior management positions. Her professional path has been defined by the integration of team leadership with a strong technical foundation and a clear business-oriented approach.

She currently heads Magtel’s Engineering Division, where she drives the growth of third-party services and ensures the quality, consistency and cost control of projects. Under her leadership, a multidisciplinary team delivers initiatives in renewable energy, storage, high voltage and water-related solutions, coordinating all phases from conceptual engineering through to detailed design.

Her career has provided her with a comprehensive view of the project lifecycle, standing out for her ability to translate complex objectives into practical, well-aligned technical solutions. This perspective is further strengthened by her knowledge of the energy market and regulatory framework, particularly relevant in storage and pumped hydro projects.

What is the scope of activity of your business unit?

At Magtel’s Engineering Division, we deliver projects on a fully integrated basis, covering all phases of the lifecycle: from technical consultancy and feasibility studies through to permitting engineering and detailed design, technical management and commissioning support.

Our activity focuses on the energy sector, with a strong specialisation in renewable energy and new infrastructures linked to the energy transition. We work on photovoltaic generation projects — both ground-mounted and floating — wind, biomass, biogas, industrial self-consumption, electric vehicle charging points, energy storage systems (BESS), pumped storage, green hydrogen, as well as desalination and water treatment projects.

Our services include conceptual, basic and detailed engineering, technical project management, specialised consultancy and advisory services, as well as modelling and project coordination in BIM environments.

Where are these projects carried out?

The activity of Magtel’s Engineering Division is mainly carried out in Spain, with a strong presence in Andalusia. Occasionally, when required by the group, technical support has been provided for international projects, adapting solutions to different regulatory frameworks.

Which projects would you highlight from those developed by your Division?

 Among the most representative projects in which the Engineering Division has been involved are the design and permitting engineering for the Renfe Solar Olmedo photovoltaic self-consumption project with BESS storage, as well as the detailed engineering, equipment procurement and commissioning support for the Elvisa (58 MW) and Larral and Peñaza 3 (70.72 MWp) photovoltaic plants.

In the field of electrical infrastructure, projects include the Marchamorón Substation and a 220 kV High Voltage Transmission Line, in addition to preliminary studies and pre-projects for pumped storage hydropower plants such as Grandas de Salime, La Barca and Ballesta.

In other areas, the division has contributed to the preliminary design of the Vélez-Málaga desalination plant (IDAM), biogas projects such as the Agro-livestock Waste Recovery Plant in Valle de los Pedroches, as well as wastewater treatment and purification infrastructures such as the Zagrilla Wastewater Grouping and Treatment Plant project. More recently, innovative initiatives include the Espiel green hydrogen plant and the preliminary design of a photovoltaic panel recycling plant.

What developments are you currently working on?

 Currently, at Magtel’s Engineering Division we are working on a significant volume of projects involving the hybridisation of existing photovoltaic plants with BESS systems, as well as stand-alone storage solutions and projects for the adaptation, upgrading and expansion of existing substations and medium- and high-voltage lines.

We are also developing waste valorisation projects integrating biomass and biogas technologies, industrial self-consumption systems with electric vehicle charging points, and new pumped storage hydropower projects promoted by the Magtel group.

These activities combine the development of new projects with the modernisation and optimisation of operational infrastructure, aligned with the energy transition and the upgrading of grid networks, supported by a multidisciplinary technical team with extensive experience.