Spain is doubling down on its commitment to the expansion of renewable energy. Even as the country moves from fossil fuels, its strides are being watched with a hawk’s eye. Today, wind and solar are responsible for more than half of Spain’s electricity generation. Combined, they make up 57% of our nation’s total electricity production. To back out this commitment, the Spanish government has adopted an ambitious National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan target of 81% renewables share in electricity generation by 2030. Recent changes to the electricity mix and the ongoing reliance on natural gas have raised questions about whether Spain can maintain its trajectory toward a sustainable energy future.
In 2017, renewable sources produced just a third of Spain’s electricity. Of course, this might make sense in theory. Spain’s energy policy speaks a decidedly green transition. The incredible expansion in renewable energy really demonstrates this commitment. The municipality of Figueruelas, in the north-eastern province of Aragón, has become a poster child for this change. One of the region’s huge Cervecera wind turbines in Figueruelas is an experiment in small, democratic, non-corporate development.
In line with its renewable goals, Figueruelas is the site of a major infrastructure project: a vast factory dedicated to producing batteries for electric vehicles. This facility signals a strong partnership between the Chinese manufacturing giant CATL and Dutch-headquartered auto firm Stellantis. They have aligned themselves with a spectacular combined investment of €4 billion. In addition, once the factory is operational, it’s projected to support as many as 35,000 indirect jobs, magnifying the economic impact to the region.
The strategic decision of Figueruelas for this battery factory comes from its competitive location. As noted by Luis Bertol Moreno, “We’re in Aragón, where there’s wind all year round, there are lots of hours of sunshine, and we are surrounded by wind turbines and solar panels.” This abundance of renewable energy will be an essential part of how the factory’s new fleet is powered.
While the push towards renewables continues, Spain’s energy landscape has evolved since April 2023, with an increased reliance on natural gas. This change has raised a lively debate about what should be the role of nuclear power in the future Spanish energy model. Today, nuclear energy provides around 20 percent of our national electricity supply. Spain is planning to phase out its five nuclear plants between 2027 and 2035. This decision confirms the country’s serious intent to diversify energy sources with renewables.
The debate surrounding nuclear power is complex. Ignacio Araluce poses important questions about baseload energy production in times when renewables will not be producing enough electricity. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced energy mix: “It’s prudent to have a mix of renewables and nuclear energy.” He further argues that nuclear power plays an essential role in providing consistent energy output, stating, “with a source like nuclear, that is not producing CO2, that is producing all hours of the year.”
Concha Sánchez among others assures that experience has demonstrated high rates of renewable energy can be integrated into the electricity grid without undermining system security. “We have operated the system with higher renewable rates with no effect on the security of the system,” she asserts. Sánchez’s remarks further emphasize that renewable energy can be expanded much more with reliability in mind.
As Spain advances towards its renewable energy targets, the ongoing discussion regarding the balance between renewables and nuclear power remains critical. Many experts are particularly concerned about the idea of going completely renewable without taking renewables’ intermittency into account. Ignacio Araluce asks, “How can you produce energy in those hours when the renewables are not producing?” This query highlights the need for a comprehensive and varied energy approach, blending renewables with traditional fuels.