Oct 23, 2025
Nuclear discussions arise in Spain following the blackout.
Spain is set to close its first nuclear power plant in 2027, prompting renewed discussions about the country's energy future just months after a major blackout affected much of Spain and Portugal, highlighting flaws in the Iberian grid.
Iberdrola, which owns 52.7% of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Extremadura, alongside Endesa (36%) and Naturgy (11%), announced plans to formally request a delay in the shutdown, according to El País.
Per Spain’s 2021 National Energy and Climate Plan, the remaining five nuclear stations are scheduled to close between 2027 and 2035. Almaraz I and II are expected to halt operations in November 2027 and October 2028, respectively, followed by other reactors in Catalonia, Valencia, and Guadalajara.
Nuclear power currently supplies around 20% of Spain's electricity, while renewable sources accounted for 56.8% in 2024, according to Red Eléctrica.
Spain has historically promoted a transition to renewable energy, but the April blackout renewed criticism over the grid's reliance on weather-dependent energy. Energy Minister Sara Aagesen denied that renewables were responsible, stating there’s "no evidence" to support that claim. Investigations have yet to identify a clear cause.
The Socialist Party (PSOE) has included the nuclear phase-out in its agenda since the early 2000s, with the policy formalized during Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s first term. Despite the April outage, the government is sticking to its plan.
The junior coalition partner, Sumar, insists the closures should continue, arguing that nuclear energy is costly, polluting, and hinders a fair ecological transition.
In contrast, the opposition favors maintaining nuclear energy. With support from Sánchez’s Catalan ally Junts, the center-right Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox are pushing for parliamentary discussions on a potential delay.
An energy ministry spokesperson indicated that any delay would hinge on three factors: ensuring radiological safety, maintaining energy supply, and avoiding increased consumer costs.
Gonzalo García-Fernández, a nuclear energy expert at Madrid’s Polytechnic University, believes these criteria are already satisfied, stating the nuclear debate in Spain is heavily politicized.
García-Fernández sees nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source that balances renewable energy by providing a stable output, unaffected by weather conditions.
The ministry asserts that renewables can fully replace nuclear energy without raising costs, projecting that clean energy will make up 81% of electricity production by 2030.
However, prioritizing the shutdown of nuclear reactors could adversely impact climate goals, as new wind and solar installations would fill the gap left by nuclear rather than displacing fossil fuel plants.
Diego Rodríguez, an energy economist at FEDEA, cautioned that Spain lacks adequate battery storage and renewable infrastructure to achieve its goals without risking price fluctuations and supply shortages.
"The government's timeline is optimistic," he noted.
On Monday, the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) approved "emergency" measures to stabilize the grid.
There is growing consensus across the sector—among nuclear operators and renewable developers alike—that a cautious approach is necessary.
"Given the current situation," Rodríguez concluded, "the prudent course of action is to wait."
Iberdrola, which owns 52.7% of the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Extremadura, alongside Endesa (36%) and Naturgy (11%), announced plans to formally request a delay in the shutdown, according to El País.
Per Spain’s 2021 National Energy and Climate Plan, the remaining five nuclear stations are scheduled to close between 2027 and 2035. Almaraz I and II are expected to halt operations in November 2027 and October 2028, respectively, followed by other reactors in Catalonia, Valencia, and Guadalajara.
Nuclear power currently supplies around 20% of Spain's electricity, while renewable sources accounted for 56.8% in 2024, according to Red Eléctrica.
Spain has historically promoted a transition to renewable energy, but the April blackout renewed criticism over the grid's reliance on weather-dependent energy. Energy Minister Sara Aagesen denied that renewables were responsible, stating there’s "no evidence" to support that claim. Investigations have yet to identify a clear cause.
The Socialist Party (PSOE) has included the nuclear phase-out in its agenda since the early 2000s, with the policy formalized during Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s first term. Despite the April outage, the government is sticking to its plan.
The junior coalition partner, Sumar, insists the closures should continue, arguing that nuclear energy is costly, polluting, and hinders a fair ecological transition.
In contrast, the opposition favors maintaining nuclear energy. With support from Sánchez’s Catalan ally Junts, the center-right Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox are pushing for parliamentary discussions on a potential delay.
An energy ministry spokesperson indicated that any delay would hinge on three factors: ensuring radiological safety, maintaining energy supply, and avoiding increased consumer costs.
Gonzalo García-Fernández, a nuclear energy expert at Madrid’s Polytechnic University, believes these criteria are already satisfied, stating the nuclear debate in Spain is heavily politicized.
García-Fernández sees nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source that balances renewable energy by providing a stable output, unaffected by weather conditions.
The ministry asserts that renewables can fully replace nuclear energy without raising costs, projecting that clean energy will make up 81% of electricity production by 2030.
However, prioritizing the shutdown of nuclear reactors could adversely impact climate goals, as new wind and solar installations would fill the gap left by nuclear rather than displacing fossil fuel plants.
Diego Rodríguez, an energy economist at FEDEA, cautioned that Spain lacks adequate battery storage and renewable infrastructure to achieve its goals without risking price fluctuations and supply shortages.
"The government's timeline is optimistic," he noted.
On Monday, the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) approved "emergency" measures to stabilize the grid.
There is growing consensus across the sector—among nuclear operators and renewable developers alike—that a cautious approach is necessary.
"Given the current situation," Rodríguez concluded, "the prudent course of action is to wait."