The president of Foro Nuclear on the WNN podcast
Nuclear power currently generates around 20% of Spain's electricity, but the country's seven reactors are still scheduled to shut down between 2027 and 2035 under the phase-out agreement reached in 2019. However, growing concerns over energy security, electricity prices and grid stability have reopened the debate over whether Spain should reconsider the plan, WNN explains.
In a recent World Nuclear News podcast, Marta Ugalde, president of Foro Nuclear, said the key short-term decision will be whether the Spanish Government grants a three-year operating extension for Almaraz units 1 and 2, currently scheduled to close in 2027 and 2028, respectively. According to Ugalde, such an extension would provide time to reconsider the broader nuclear phase-out policy.
The key decision will be whether the Spanish Government grants a three-year operating extension for Almaraz I and II
Ugalde noted that reactors of similar design in the United States have already received licenses to operate for up to 80 years, and argued that nuclear energy now enjoys growing support from both the public and several political parties in Spain.
Marta Ugalde also linked the debate to Spain's large-scale blackout last year, stressing that nuclear and renewable energies must work together to ensure system stability during the energy transition. She added that the international context has changed significantly since the 2019 phase-out agreement, pointing to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the expected increase in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence.
The international context has changed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle east and the electricity demand of AI
The discussion in Spain reflects a broader international trend, with several European countries reconsidering previous nuclear phase-out policies in response to general concerns about energy security, competitiveness and decarbonisation.
Source: World Nuclear News
