The government stands firm on not extending nuclear plant lifespans
The administration remains unwavering about not lengthening the operation of Spain’s current nuclear facilities. In 2019, major energy companies reached a plan with Enresa, the state entity in charge of radioactive waste, to phase out all reactors beginning in 2027 and ending with a full shutdown by 2035. Manager Pedro Sanchez supports this stance without objection, and the sector’s fate will depend on which government is elected at year’s end.
Despite political opposition and pressure from some industry employers, the current government defends the established shutdown dates. In the upcoming revision of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan PNIEC, the roadmap that defines electricity generation technologies for 2030 is unlikely to include changes to the nuclear shutdown schedule.
“The government is not considering altering the calendar or extending the life of nuclear plants. The administration will continue the agreement between owning companies and Enresa, and this will be reflected in the next PNIEC update,” stated Sara Aagesen, the Minister of State for Energy, before the Congress. The 2030 roadmap aims to boost renewables, green hydrogen, biomethane, and storage, but not nuclear energy.
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pressure to rethink the plan
The government notes that neither the utility companies nor their current owners have signaled a desire to modify operating conditions or to increase nuclear investments. Delaying the shutdown is not seen as a solution to energy emergencies, since the first closure is still four years away.
During the energy crisis, political groups on the right urged the manager to revisit the schedule and consider extending deadlines. Plant owners Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy and EDP currently operate under fixed closing dates as the official scenario. Yet voices from the energy sector are beginning to surface, offering possible bargains with the government to review dates if needed to meet decarbonisation targets for the economy.
Industry advocates argue that there is no technical barrier to letting plants run beyond planned dates, provided profitability is ensured. Utilities would consider extending reactor operation if a stable income framework exists, along with favorable tax conditions compared with current levels.
Deadline to decide
Companies in the nuclear sector warn that the window to decide on any review of the closure schedule is not open-ended. If the first closures are delayed, a decision must still arrive this year or next at the latest, particularly regarding Almaraz I in 2027. Nuclear representatives emphasize that the next government must address this before the elections originally planned for December.
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Spain currently operates seven reactors across five plants, contributing about a fifth of the country’s electricity each year. Proponents of nuclear energy highlight the dependable, continuous power supply and the absence of CO2 emissions compared with intermittent renewables.
Electric utilities, Enresa, and the Nuclear Safety Council coordinate under the agreed timetable to plan investments and extend operating permits. The staged shutdown of seven Spanish reactors, agreed in 2019 with major power companies, sets Almaraz I for 2027, Almaraz II for 2028, Ascó I for 2030, Cofrentes for 2030, Ascó II for 2032, Vandellós II for 2035, and Trillo for 2035.
From the Nuclear Employers Forum, the plant owners and the CSN regulator note that the preparation process for investments and permits takes about three years. Avoiding the initial 2027 shutdown would require a decision no later than next year.[Citation: European energy policy review 2024]