Spain Extends Life of Largest Nuclear Power Plant

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

Summary

The Spanish government has announced that it is extending the life of the Almaraz nuclear power station until June 2030, in a move that could be replicated at other facilities due for decommissioning.

Life Extension for Almaraz

The Spanish government has announced that the planned closure of the nation's largest nuclear power plant, Almaraz, in 2028 will be postponed by two years until 2030. It cited the ongoing impact of the U.S./Israeli-led war against Iran for rocketing fossil fuel prices and shortages but claimed that the decision would not impact the country's plan to phase out its five existing nuclear power plants by 2035. The decision will alter when decommissioning will start, as the decommissioning process for both reactors at Alamaraz was due to begin in 2027-28. Almaraz, located in the western region of Extremadura, is the largest nuclear power plant in Spain and generates around 7% of total electricity. According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are  12 nuclear-related projects in Spain worth more than US$940 million in investment. Most are related to plant closures, followed by maintenance. Spain has five nuclear power plants that supply around a quarter of its power. 

Petition for Extension

News of the extension until June 8, 2030, was contained in an official state gazette and confirmed the authorisation to extend Almaraz's operations until June 8, 2030. It stated: "The limited extension during this period makes a temporary contribution to mitigating the exposure of the electricity system and Spanish consumers to previously unforeseen price spikes." It added that renewable energy and storage will continue to be "structural solutions to the exposure and vulnerability that the external dependence on fossil fuels represents." Prior to its decision, the government had stated that any extension would require that the plant met safety standards and would not result in additional costs for taxpayers. The owners of Almaraz - Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy - jointly petitioned the government late last year for a two-year extension. Last month, the country's nuclear safety regulator backed extending the operating life of the plant to 2030 following a safety review.  Business leaders in Spain's Catalan region have called on the government to delay the planned decommissioning of the Ascó and Vandellós nuclear plants, citing risks to national supply.

Spain's Historic Blackout

The extension comes after an unprecedented blackout last April that took out power in Spain and Portugal for up to 24 hours. It was the most serious incident to occur on the European power system in more than 20 years and affected more than 60 million people. After investigation, it was subsequently blamed on insufficient voltage control capacity, a series of planning failures and premature disconnections that worsened the blackout. For additional information, see April 30, 2025, article - Spain, Portugal Recovering After Worst Power Outage. One of the solutions put forward afterwards was for the introduction of more energy storage. In January, Industrial Info Resources reported that Spain's government had announced 818 million euro (US$956 million) in financial support for 126 energy storage projects designed to strengthen the resilience of its grid. Industrial Info Resources is tracking 159 active energy storage projects in Spain worth more than US$13 billion in investment. 

Key Takeaways

• Spain's government has announced a two-year extension to 2030 for its largest nuclear power plant, Almaraz.
• The government cited rocketing fossil fuel prices and shortages caused by the U.S./Israeli-led war against Iran.
• Spain has five nuclear power plants that supply around a quarter of its power.

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).