In a pivotal move for Spain's energy future, authorities have received a formal request from the operators of the country's largest nuclear power plant, Almaraz, to extend its operational life beyond the planned 2028 shutdown. This development, announced by a government source on Friday, reignites national discussions on nuclear power's role amid a aggressive push toward renewable energy sources.
Spanish authorities are evaluating a request from Endesa, Iberdrola, and Naturgy to extend the Almaraz nuclear plant's life beyond 2028, following a major April 2025 blackout that questioned the 2035 nuclear phase-out. Almaraz supplies 7% of Spain's electricity, supporting the shift to 81% renewables by 2030. The proposal emphasizes safety compliance and zero extra consumer costs. Critics stress nuclear's reliability against renewables' variability. With nuclear at 19% of the mix (down from 38%), this could stabilize Spain's energy transition under PM Sánchez's green agenda, halving prices since 2018. Stay informed on Europe's nuclear-renewables debate.
Key Highlights: Spanish energy giants request Almaraz extension; contributes 7% to national power; aligns with renewables goal of 81% by 2030; safety and cost compliance required.
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| Source: Unsplash |
AFP reports: Spanish authorities have received a request from the country’s biggest nuclear power plant to extend its life beyond a scheduled shutdown in 2028, a government source said Friday.
The request comes after a nationwide power outage in April that revived debate over Spain’s decision to close all of its nuclear reactors by 2035.
Spanish energy firms Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy sent a letter to the ecological transition ministry to declare their “availability” to extend the closure deadline of the Almaraz nuclear plant, a ministry source told AFP.
The plant in western Spain contributes around seven percent of Spain’s total electricity production.
Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government has bet heavily on renewable energy, which he says led to a 50 percent drop in electricity prices since coming to office in 2018.
Leveraging its sunny plains, windy hillsides and fast-flowing rivers, Spain intends to raise the share of renewable-generated electricity to 81 percent of its total by 2030, up from about 50 percent now.
Critics warn that renewable energy can be unpredictable and less reliable, and say nuclear power can provide a steady backup.
The government source said any decision to extend the life of the Almaraz plant would require compliance with safety standards and no additional costs for consumers.
Contacted by AFP, the three power companies that own the Almaraz plant did not immediately comment.
Spain currently has five nuclear plants, down from eight in the 1980s.
The remaining plants, comprising seven reactors, account for 19 percent of Spain’s electricity mix, down from 38 percent four decades ago.