Spanish nuclear power plants are expected to be closed between 2027 and 2035, although many energy operators consider them necessary as the transmission network stabilizers for transition to renewable electricity generation.
The nationwide power outage experienced in April is thought to be due to a sharp increase in solar electricity production, which was made without adequate stabilization of the network frequency fluctuations.
An official report on what happened is still under construction, but a massive power outage has led the Spain’s anti -nuclear left -wing government to promise that it may consider an extension of nuclear power plants, “if the general reasons require”.
The right would bring a full turn
All the current seven nuclear reactors in Spain are still expected to be closed by the end of 2035, but the Ministry of the Environment promises to “look at the matter” if power companies are seeking a three -year extension on the schedule.
The first of the reactors should be excluded in this year in 2027. That year, the following parliamentary elections will also be ahead.
The three -year extension could lead to a full translation in the entire nuclear power policy if the right -wing parties rose under government power, as the right would support nuclear power.
Large electricity companies are now expected to decide in June to see if they are looking for extra time for their power plants. Nuclear safety authority does not see obstacles to extending the life.
Stability.
The advantage of nuclear power compared to the forms of renewable energy production is the stability of production volume. In Spain, one fifth of electricity was produced last year by nuclear power. The picture shows the Cofrentes nuclear power plant in Valencia.
Photo: Kai Forsterling
Ecological transition ministry
Socialist Pedro Sánchezin The government decided to close the nuclear power plants in 2019. The schedule was negotiated with electricity companies.
The Minister of the Environment wanted to get out of nuclear power especially Teresa Riberalast year transferred to EU competition and pure, fair transition to Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Commission Henna Virkkunen alongside.
Energy issues have been a member of the Ministry of the Environment in Spanish government for seven years. Its official name is the ministry of the ecological transition.
In accordance with the EU line of the EU, the influential Ribera tended to approve as a non -emission source to the Commission.
However, in Spain, the government retained the anti -nuclear line of Ribera.
The government’s goal is to generate as much as 81 % of electricity in renewable energy sources in 2030 – and after 2035, all electricity would be produced without nuclear power, which has so far been responsible for approximately one fifth of consumption each year.
Solar power already 32 gigawatts
Solar power has been enormously increased during the Sánchez Left Board.
In 2018, there were less than five gigawatts connected to the grid. Today is 32 gigawatts – 32,000 megawatts. For example, the maximum power of the Olkiluoto third reactor is 1,600 megawatts.
More and more effective solar panel power plants are being built through Spain. Wind power is also connected to the network as much as solar power.
According to media information, solar and wind farms yielded more than 70 percent of the energy entering the network in the event of a power outage on a sunny day in late April.
State -led group Hatto which the transmission system company Red Electrica Belonged, had reportedly recorded unusually large frequency fluctuations.
However, Redeia’s administrative leadership is under the guidance of the Sánchez Board of Directors, and the network company has not been widely confirmed in the media.
According to a conservative, government-critical ABC magazine, the government had even whispered the network company to increase the share of the renewables, so that Sánchez could boast with the amount of Spanish solar electricity. “
Power failure.
On April 28, Spain saw a record extensive power outage, which also extended to Portugal and France. The causes of the break are still being investigated. The picture was taken during a power outage from Galicia, northwest of Galicia, where people illuminated a pub night with candles.
Kuva: Brais Lorenzo
“Ultra -rich nuclear power plant owners”
The Board of Directors’ Research Committee report on the causes of the power outage has not been completed.
When Sánchez set up a committee, he in public saying that “who claim to be the cause of renewable energy is lying.”
Facts
The Grand Electricity is accused of solar power
There was a nationwide power outage in Spain on April 28. Depending on the area, it lasted 8-20 hours and the government’s report on the causes of the break was not completed.
Many experts think that the interruption was essentially due to the rapid increase in solar power, without adequate stabilization of the grid.
The Spanish power grid has already connected 32 gigawatts of solar panel power plants. There is just as much wind power. The total power of seven nuclear reactors in the country is 7.4 gigawatts.
Last year, 23 % of the electricity consumed was produced with wind power, 20 % nuclear power, 17 % with solar panels, 13 % with hydropower and the rest with fuels such as natural gas, oil, coal and waste.
ENTSO-E, a joint organization of European power grid companies, will conduct its own survey of the power outage of Spain. Fresh interim report Already create a technical picture of events. An analysis of the causes and conclusions to avoid similar situations are still underway.
The Prime Minister suspected “ultra -rich owners of nuclear power plants,” big power companies. Companies such as Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgysay they have had to provide the Committee with a huge amount of data about its operation during a power outage.
In addition to the political-ideological burden, the investigation is possibly about hundreds of millions of euros in compensation.
Foro Nuclear, the Spanish nuclear lobbying organization, has reminded that solar panels do not produce any heavy turbine energy, inertia that has stabilized the frequency fluctuations of the network before the panels’ entry.
According to nuclear power bubbles, solar power is needed for either turbines for polluting natural gas plants or emission -free nuclear power plants – or the energy stores, which are lacking in Spain so far.