Global upheavals in recent years, from a lingering pandemic to renewed tensions in Europe, have accelerated the shift toward essential economic changes. The European Union answered the Covid crisis with substantial community funding to stabilize a faltering economy and to push a restructured production model that leans on digitalization and an energy transition aligned with climate goals.
The geopolitical tremors triggered by the invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis intensified calls for energy security. The dialogue moved toward increasing energy autonomy, deploying clean energy as a shield against external dependency, and undertaking structural reforms to shield citizens from volatile energy prices.
The government emerging from the 23J elections will oversee the roll-out of the Recovery Plan and European funds, while advancing a green roadmap that will expand renewable energy and drive emissions reductions in response to the climate crisis.
Advancing the green revolution
The current administration has submitted a refreshed version of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) to the European Commission. The document raises ambitious targets for 2030 and outlines a practical pathway to decarbonize the economy. This draft will be refined through collaboration between the new government and Brussels over the coming year.
Optimists note that even with potential political changes, the drive to expand clean energy is unlikely to retreat. Brussels continues to set increasingly stringent environmental targets that are intended to be permanent, and national law reflects a tendency to raise, not lower, energy and climate ambitions. The route to those goals will involve targeted policies, and the exact approach will depend on the ruling coalition in the coming years.
A new wave of renewable energy is sweeping Spain, and the electricity system will need strategic preparation. The path to a successful energy transition rests on the incoming government removing administrative bottlenecks for over a thousand green projects, expanding the grid, increasing international interconnections, and implementing storage solutions to minimize wasted renewable power. The country also aims to assume a central role in the hydrogen economy, either as a local producer for domestic use or as a major exporter to Europe. [citation: European energy strategy]
Autonomy in energy relies on promoting renewable utilization while nurturing a green industrial base. The new administration faces the challenge of building a robust domestic renewable sector to reduce dependence on imported panels, components, and raw materials, as well as on oil and gas from other nations, notably Russia.
The 23J elections sparked debate over Spain’s nuclear future: should the current plan to retire reactors by 2035 proceed, as favored by PSOE and allies, or should lifespans be extended as supported by other parties? In any case, electricity producers will push for a model that preserves profitability while expanding nuclear capacity where feasible.
A shield for the next crisis
As the worst of the energy crunch subsides, the new administration will confront the withdrawal of emergency anti-crisis measures requested by Brussels. The primary challenge is to implement structural reforms that insulate the economy and citizens from future market shocks in energy scenarios yet to come.
Efforts toward EU-wide electricity market reform aim to lower costs through renewable energy, with Spain positioning itself at the forefront of discussions on reform and greater state involvement to temper price rises. This stance does not enjoy unanimous backing among all member states, but it reflects a broader push toward stabilizing energy costs in the face of volatility.
Looking ahead,Spain’s national strategy may shift if political leadership changes after the 23J vote. The current government aims to complete a reform package within the year, while a different administration would shape timing and priorities differently. The political landscape will determine the pace and scope of reform, with a focus on energy security, market resilience, and long-term affordability for consumers.