"Nuclear power makes us throw away sun and wind"

BarcelonaEvery time there is an energy crisis, the debate resurfaces about whether it is necessary to extend the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants. In fact, in Spain—and in Catalonia—it is a recurring debate that is currently at a crucial juncture, because The Spanish government has a pending decision on the table that could determine the future of this technology: whether or not to extend the lifespan of the Almaraz nuclear power plant.If the decision is to extend the life of that nuclear unit, it opens the door to doing so with the rest. If the decision is made to close it, the timeline will begin that must lead to Spain having no more operating nuclear power plants by 2035.

But the situation is different in Spain than in Catalonia. While nuclear power plants in Spain contributed 19% of electricity generation in 2025, Catalonia's dependence on this energy source is much greater. In fact, in 2025, the Catalan nuclear plants – Ascó I, Ascó II, and Vandellòs II – contributed 56% of the electricity generated. For the time being, Catalan nuclear power plants claim to be prepared to extend their lifespan

At the last meeting of ANAV (Ascó-Vandellòs Nuclear Association, which operates these plants) officials, it became clear that extending the plants' lifespan by ten years is not a problem. However, annual investments of between 90 and 100 million euros would be necessary to guarantee the reliability of the facilities. The plant owners are waiting to see if the government opens up this possibility. "Our three plants have passed regular safety inspections and are in perfect technical condition. We continue to invest around thirty million euros a year in each unit to keep improving," stated Paulo Santos, CEO of the Ascó-Vandellòs Nuclear Association (ANAV), during the meeting with the media. Santos considers it "good news" that the companies owning the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Extremadura (Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy) have asked the Spanish government to postpone its closure for two years, until 2030. "We are waiting to see what the reaction will be." "We want all the nuclear power plants in Spain to continue operating and for the Ascó and Vandellòs plants to also be able to operate for more years," Santos stated, without specifying whether Endesa and Iberdrola, owners of the ANAV nuclear plants, will also formally request an extension.

The debate is alive. For economist, university professor, and researcher Mar Reguant, "in Spain, nuclear power means we're wasting solar and wind energy," at least during periods of high renewable production, such as autumn or spring. The reason, she indicates, is that nuclear reactors are not flexible; they cannot be turned on and off, and therefore, when there is excess renewable generation, they continue producing, and the renewable energy is paid for at zero. According to Reguant, the stability and security of supply provided by nuclear power could also be achieved "with some gas," and, moreover, it could be done with biogas.

Opportunity cost

Reguant points out that extending the lifespan of nuclear power plants is not free; it requires significant investment, and the price of uranium has been steadily rising for the last decade. Furthermore, he indicates that there is an "opportunity cost" factor, since if investors allocate the necessary funds to extend the lifespan of nuclear plants, they will not invest in increasing energy storage (with batteries or pumped storage facilities). He adds that Spain lacks uranium but has abundant solar and wind resources (and also biogas), which could lead to greater energy independence, resulting in lower prices and making the country's industry more competitive. The president of Pimec's energy commission, José Enrique Vázquez, disagrees. He asserts that in Catalonia and Spain, despite being the leading country in renewable energy generation, there will be an electricity supply problem if the gas supply fails. "If we close the nuclear plants, they will have to be replaced by combined cycle gas turbines, and we may even have to build more," says Vázquez. Furthermore, he points out that if nuclear power plants are shut down, restarting them takes four years. For this reason, Vázquez is calling for an "urgent debate"—one that "is not taking place at the institutional level"—regarding the future of nuclear power.