Spain to close its nuclear reactors by 2030

19 November 2018


Spain plans to close its last nuclear reactors and coal power plants before 2030, according to State Secretary for Energy José Dominguez. He was speaking mid-November, shortly after Madrid pledged to work towards a fully renewable electricity system.

Dominguez noted that the government does not plan to extend the lifespan of any of its nuclear reactors beyond their current 40-year design life. Spain’s oldest reactor, Almaraz 1, which has been operating for more than 37 years, is therefore expected to close in 2021, with the last unit going offline in 2028.

Phasing out nuclear power in Spain is a “social decision”, the minister noted. However, the new draft climate law does not directly mention a nuclear phase-out option.

Nuclear power accounted for about 20% of Spain’s electricity requirements in 2016, and renewables provided about 23%. The new draft climate law aims to make Spain’s electricity system 100% renewable by 2050, as well as cutting its total emissions by as much as 90% by the turn of mid-century. Renewables are targeted to account for 35% of power production by 2030.

The draft law confirms that ending the use of coal is on the agenda. Nine of Spain’s 14 coal plants will shut in June 2020, as they will not meet EU rules for heavy polluters. Dominguez confirmed that the other five would not operate beyond 2030. Spain will also ban fracking, scrap new fossil fuel subsidies and stop issuing new gas an oil exploration permits.



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