The Government of Spain agreed a stepped blackout of nuclear centrals between 2027 and 2035. However, the debate that seemed settled in 2019 has reopened with many actors involved.
Battle The epicenter of the problem It started with the Almaraz Centralsince it is the first to close within two years according to the agreed calendar. However, electricity, government, opposition and population have opened the debate about whether to continue with the closing plan or extend the useful life of nuclear plants.
A renegotiation. Electric companies (Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy and EDP) are confronted with both each other and with the central government about the closure of nuclear plants. On the one hand, Iberdrola and Endesa are looking for how to obtain more favorable conditions that allow them to keep the nuclear power plants operational without incurring economic losses, According to eldiario.es. In addition, they add that there is an increase in demand for data centers and must ensure the stability of the supply, because otherwise the light could be increased by up to 25%. On the other hand, the rest of the electricity, such as Naturgy and EDP, have shown less interest in prolonging the useful life of nuclear, since they have adjusted down the accounting value of their assets in this sector, how have explained expanding.
The main problem is multiprophity, since any extension requires unanimity among the partners of each plant. To unlock the situation, companies explore solutions such as a 2-3-year mini-programs or the exchange of assets, where companies would reorganize the ownership of the centrals so that there are fewer partners in each plant, which would facilitate decision making.
While the government … It continues with the same position that the closure must follow the agreed calendar of 2019, but has shown some flexibility. According to expansionthe Ministry of Ecological Transition has indicated that any renegotiation of the closure of Almaraz or other plants is only possible if electricity agrees first between them.
The voices in favor. As we report in Xatakathe Congress of Deputies approved a non -law proposition to open the possibility of extending nuclear centrals. The initiative, presented by the Popular Party came forward with the support of Vox and a deputy of UPN, in addition to the abstention of Junts and ERC. Of course, since it is a non -binding figure, its approval does not entail any change in the formalized closing calendar six years ago, but it does reflect the position of the camera.
The commitment to renewable. The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC 2023-2030) has established that in five years 81% of electricity with renewable sources and renewable sources must be generated is close to getting it. In the last two months, according to the data provided by Electric Red of Spain (REE)nuclear energy has represented 20% of the total electricity generation. This percentage has increased due to the fall in solar energy production.
This change in the energy panorama reopens the debate on the need for a continuous energy source, especially given the growing energy consumption of data centers driven by artificial intelligencethat require constant and stable supply. On the other hand, another question opens, in terms of the use of energy storage that could be one of the alternatives, but in the country all that surplus of renewable energy It is taking place in the swamps.
The future. While the debate on the future of nuclear energy in Spain is still open, investigations have begun to take steps towards nuclear fusion. The Rodas project, which seeks to advance in this emerging technology, is presented as a new window within the energy sector, with the aim of developing a clean and practically inexhaustible energy source, As we have highlighted in Xataka. However, there is still a way to go and much to try before the nuclear fusion becomes A large -scale viable alternative.
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Xataka | Ascó and Almaraz nuclear power plants will close in six years. Its US twins just renewed up to 2060
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