HE Supreme Court Partially agrees with Naturgy by allowing temporary closure five gas power plantsbut he denies that he should take compensation some remained open for a long time. The electricity company requested a shutdown four years five storeys combined cycle In 2017, they approached the Ministry of Ecological Transition, claiming that the enormous cost of keeping them open did not cover the revenue they were generating. The plants in question are found in: Palos de la Frontera (group 1 and 3), Cartagena (groups 2 and 3) and sagunto (Group 3).
The department headed by the third vice president, Teresa RiberaHe did not respond to the energy company’s request and preferred administrative silence. Twice. Following the first request, we applied to the General Directorate of Energy Policy on May 25, 2017, and then to the Minister of State Responsible for Energy. The high court now allows the closure, stating: HE double administrative silence should be understood as resource estimate “If the competent administrative body does not make and notify a clear decision when the deadline for the decision is reached.”
But the Supreme Court also agrees because half way Naturgy also made a request compensation for “damage and losses” while the facilities were kept open. In particular, for the period between the date when the Administration must respond to your closure request, i.e. May 25, 2018and until this sentence becomes final. Judges, company He did not provide evidence.
“The appellant did not attach to his claim any documentation justifying the source of the compensation he claimed, did not refer to any point relevant to the claim in question, and did not propose any means of evidence in this regard,” the text reads. says. Naturgy argued on appeal that: compensation amount I would have to look execution of sentenceOnce the date when factories can be closed is known, the Supreme Court confirms that this should be done sooner.
We must add others to these five centers. five about which Naturgy requested closure in 2018In addition to those who did not receive any response from the administration center sixth It is requested to be closed for other reasons and the Supreme Court must decide soon.
The current situation
Naturgy sources confirm that they are considering the decision and will decide what to do with these plants from there. The current situation is very different from what happened in 2017. coal It was part of the mix electricity generation and a combination of cycles very low usage rate. While the utilization rate of gas power plants was 16% in 2017, when Naturgy recommended the closure of these five power plants, this rate was 12% a year ago. Last year, energy crisis The use of this technology has increased rapidly The first production source in the countryThe usage rate is 34%.
Although last year was an exception, gas power plants, which are the third generation source today, have become mandatory to avoid power outages due to renewable energy floods planned to be installed in the region. Spanish electricity system in the coming years. In fact, the main demand from companies right now is the creation of a new company beyond closure. capacity market reward them for being available because it is something shared by the Ministry of Ecological Transformation when they are necessary for the system.