{"id":179155,"date":"2025-10-24T02:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T02:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/spain-wants-to-demonstrate-that-it-can-live-without-nuclear-weapons-the-challenge-however-is-that-it-is-still-in-the-process-of-figuring-out-how-to-do-this\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T02:21:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T02:21:12","slug":"spain-wants-to-demonstrate-that-it-can-live-without-nuclear-weapons-the-challenge-however-is-that-it-is-still-in-the-process-of-figuring-out-how-to-do-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/spain-wants-to-demonstrate-that-it-can-live-without-nuclear-weapons-the-challenge-however-is-that-it-is-still-in-the-process-of-figuring-out-how-to-do-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain wants to demonstrate that it can live without nuclear weapons. The challenge, however, is that it is still in the process of figuring out how to do this."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spain is at a \u00a0pivotal\u00a0 moment in its energy policy, especially concerning its nuclear power plans. The government’s approach involves the \u00a0orderly closure\u00a0 of nuclear power plants, relying instead on an experimental digital system to stabilize the electrical grid. In stark contrast, major electricity companies are raising alarms about the speed of this transition, claiming it exceeds \u00a0safety limits\u00a0. Central to this discussion is Almaraz, a nuclear power plant in \u00a0Extremadura\u00a0, which has once again become a point of contention among various stakeholders.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Nuclear Dilemma<\/h2>\n

Officially, the Almaraz nuclear power plant is scheduled to close between 2027 and 2028. However, this timeline is now heavily debated. Major electricity suppliers such as \u00a0Iberdrola\u00a0, \u00a0Endesa\u00a0, and \u00a0Naturgy\u00a0 are forming a coalition to petition the Ministry for the \u00a0Ecological Transition\u00a0 for an extension \u00a0until 2030\u00a0. Their argument hinges on recent electrical failures that have reignited fears of potential \u00a0blackouts\u00a0.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For the moment, these companies are not seeking tax incentives. Rather, they emphasize that Spain is not prepared to undergo a \u00a0disconnection\u00a0 from nuclear energy. As stated by the CEO of Iberdrola Spain, \u201c\u00a0Nuclear is the system’s anti-blackout shield\u00a0.\u201d Yet, the government remains unmoved. Minister for Ecological Transition, \u00a0Sara Aagesen\u00a0, reiterates the commitment to a closure calendar established in 2019, which outlines a \u00a0phased exit between 2027 and 2035\u00a0. The Executive would only reconsider this position under three stringent conditions: security, a guaranteed supply, and no additional costs to the taxpayer.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Model in Testing<\/h2>\n

The heart of this controversy is not just political but also \u00a0technical\u00a0. The government\u2019s strategy is to substitute the stability provided by nuclear and thermal plants with a digital \u00a0voltage and frequency control system\u00a0 powered by renewable sources. With advanced electronics, it is theorized that wind and solar farms can emulate electrical inertia, which is crucial for resisting sudden shifts in frequency. However, this model is still in the \u00a0testing\u00a0 phase.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

According to Energy News<\/a>, \u00a0Red El\u00e9ctrica (REE)\u00a0 is working on new control tools to better integrate non-synchronous generation, but full validation is still pending. Moreover, the new digital control algorithms have yet to undergo rigorous national testing, with their reliability at high power levels still unclear. Acknowledging these challenges, officials from the Ministry of Ecological Transition noted that achieving full system stability is a \u00a0long-term goal\u00a0.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Network Under Surveillance<\/h2>\n

Recognizing these risks, the \u00a0CNMC\u00a0 (National Commission on Markets and Competition) has approved an emergency modification of operational procedures to bolster system stability. These new standards dictate how \u00a0Red El\u00e9ctrica\u00a0 must respond to fluctuations in voltage and frequency, allowing for greater flexibility during precarious conditions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, not everything has unfolded as planned. Energy expert \u00a0Joaqu\u00edn Coronado\u00a0 revealed via social media that the CNMC halted the complete approval of recent operational changes when it discovered that many conventional plants could not meet the rapid-response demands of the new model. This led to an acknowledgment from the CNMC that the issues at hand revolved around the \u00a0speed of response\u00a0, rather than merely inertia.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Pulse of Time<\/h2>\n

The proposal from electricity companies to extend the operation of Almaraz’s first reactor until \u00a02030\u00a0 and the second until \u00a02029\u00a0 would effectively add three years to the existing timeline. However, the \u00a0Nuclear Safety Council\u00a0 has stipulated that required documentation must be submitted by November 1 in order to initiate the decommissioning process.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Simultaneously, the government of \u00a0Extremadura\u00a0 has mentioned plans to cut the regional “ecotax” by half if the plant continues to operate, a move viewed with skepticism by the central government. \u201cTaxpayers cannot shoulder additional costs to keep a plant that is meant to close,\u201d remarked \u00a0Jos\u00e9 Luis Quintana\u00a0, the government delegate in Extremadura.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mobilization in the Streets<\/h2>\n\n

<\/p>\n

Conversely, \u00a0Ecologists in Action\u00a0 criticized the rally, urging a quicker move towards a \u201cjust transition\u201d that provides alternative employment options. \u201cContinuing to tie the fate of a region to an industry that poses \u00a0environmental and health risks\u00a0 is not sustainable,\u201d they stated in their official remarks.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Europe Looks at Spain<\/h2>\n

While countries like \u00a0France\u00a0 and \u00a0Belgium\u00a0 extend their reactor lifespan until 2060, Spain remains steadfast in its nuclear phase-out strategy. The \u00a0Enresa\u00a0 fund, which is responsible for dismantling nuclear facilities, faces a deficit of \u00a0\u20ac11.6 billion\u00a0, further complicating the discussion. Electricity companies argue that an early closure will increase costs. In contrast, the government contends that extending the operational timeline jeopardizes \u00a0ecological progress\u00a0.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The energy situation in Spain is exacerbated by its status as an \u00a0“energy island”\u00a0 with only 3% interconnection with France, amplifying the consequences of any potential failures. Increasingly, experts emphasize that the primary issue is not the pace of transition but rather the \u00a0infrastructure\u00a0 and regulatory framework, which have not evolved swiftly enough to meet current demands.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A Still Uncertain Future<\/h2>\n

Almaraz has evolved into more than just a power plant; it symbolizes the dilemma between \u00a0climate urgency\u00a0 and energy security. The government insists that renewable energy and digital control can maintain grid stability, while technicians and electricity companies call for a more cautious approach. As engineers at Red El\u00e9ctrica refine control algorithms, and as the CNMC continues to approve regulatory adjustments, residents of Almaraz brace for a future that remains heavily dependent on the two reactors. Spain aspires to illuminate the path forward, but for now, that power lies firmly in the hands of a plant that is not yet ready to be retired.<\/p>\n


\n
General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spain is at a \u00a0pivotal\u00a0 moment in its energy policy, especially concerning its nuclear power plans. The government’s approach involves the \u00a0orderly closure\u00a0 of nuclear power plants, relying instead on an experimental digital system to stabilize the electrical grid. In stark contrast, major electricity companies are raising alarms about the speed of this transition, claiming […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":179156,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[7955,7379,44129,2380,704,869,1694,247],"class_list":["post-179155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-challenge","tag-demonstrate","tag-figuring","tag-live","tag-nuclear","tag-process","tag-spain","tag-weapons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}