- Spain is proceeding with its plan to phase out nuclear power despite appeals to reconsider the strategy.
- Spain aims for 81 per cent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by the end of the decade.
Spain is proceeding with its plan to phase out nuclear power despite appeals to reconsider the strategy. The officials are relying on renewable energy and battery storage to bridge the anticipated gap. Currently, nuclear power provides approximately 20 per cent of the country’s electricity. The government intends to retire all seven domestic nuclear reactors over the next ten years.
Additionally, Spain is preparing to shut down its final coal-fired plant before the year ends. Wind, solar, and large-scale batteries are expected to take their place in the energy mix.
Though Spain ranks just behind Germany in European renewable capacity, it remains somewhat dependent on fossil fuels. Natural gas stations will be kept on standby to ensure supply security during the transition.
A major aspect of the plan depends on the rapid development of energy storage systems. The country’s existing storage capacity stands at 3GW, with a goal of reaching 20GW by 2030. Achieving this goal requires unprecedented growth in solar and wind installations within the next five years.
Spain aims for 81 per cent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by the end of the decade. So far, no nuclear companies have formally asked to modify the closure schedule. The Spanish government maintains that renewables are more economically viable in the long term.
According to an internal document from the ruling Socialist Party, seen by the news agency, solar and wind developments can yield three to four times more energy than nuclear for the same amount of investment.
The first atomic reactor is expected to be decommissioned in 2027. Observers, however, have urged caution over the pace of the transition.
After closing its last nuclear plant in 2023, Germany faced calls to extend coal plant operations to maintain its electricity supply. There is also concern that gas stations in Spain may need to operate beyond the 2035 target for carbon-neutral power. Several European countries have struggled to match power supply with demand as renewable sources expand.
Additionally, the variable nature of wind and solar has led to electricity prices dipping below zero more frequently in Spain. To help address this, Spain has allocated €100m ($110m) to four pumped storage hydroelectric schemes. These projects aim to reinforce grid reliability as Spain moves away from atomic power.