Nuclear energy returns to center of the debate en Spain and Europe with key decisions regarding life extensions, costs, and integration with renewable energy deployment. While part of the European bloc rethinks its strategy, in Spain, these issues intersect. requests for extensions, critical reports and parliamentary votes that condition the closing schedule.
Meanwhile, the international landscape is shifting: more countries are supporting the objective of triple nuclear capacity by 2050However, forecasts from international organizations suggest that the bar is set high and that delays and cost overruns outside of China continue to be a factor.
Spain: costs, waste and timetable in the spotlight
The report "The Future of Nuclear Energy in Spain" by the Renewable Energy Foundation argues that refurbish a reactor Extending its operational life can cost between 25% and 50% of a new plant, with total ranges of 14.000 to 35.000 million eurosa figure they consider disproportionate compared to cheaper and faster alternatives.
The report also compares prices: in Spain, nuclear power is more expensive than € 65 / MWh, compared to €24-43/MWh of wind and photovoltaicOn an international scale, the LCOE The estimated cost for nuclear power amounts to $173/MWh, well above the aforementioned renewables.
Against this backdrop, the Renewable Energy Foundation questions the argument that the lack of nuclear competitiveness is due to taxation and points to the need for internalize all externalities to avoid future costs for consumers and the public treasury.
At the same time, the document underlines that extending the life of the power plants would constitute an alteration of the energy planning aimed at decarbonize and electrify the economy, with significant economic, social and environmental impacts.
Life extensions: Almaraz paves the way and ANAV waits its turn
The Almaraz has formally requested an extension of its operating license. The Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, has indicated that the Government is analyzing the request with two red lines: not to pass costs on to consumers and guarantee the nuclear security.
In Catalonia, ANAV argues that the groups of Ascó I and II and Vandellòs II They are in a position to operate "for many more years," with the goal of reaching, at least, the 50 yearsThe company, jointly owned by Endesa and Iberdrola, highlights annual investments of 30 million per reactor to maintain the reliability of the facilities.
The theoretical closure dates remain set for October 2030 (Ascó I), September 2032 (Ascó II), and February 2035 (Vandellòs II). Currently, no official request has been submitted to extend its operation, although the sector considers the Almaraz extension a positive signal.
On the legislative front, the plenary session of Congress rejected removing the "definitive closure date" for Almaraz, Ascó I and Cofrentes, so The closing references remain the same included in the current planning.
From a legal standpoint, it is worth remembering that decisions such as the extension of Almaraz's life sentence are discretionary government, in accordance with the doctrine established in the Garoña case.
Operation and network: tensions with renewables and system stability
The cited analysis indicates that Spanish reactors are a obstacle to renewable development due to its operational rigidity. In episodes of high wind and solar power generationThe inability to quickly modulate nuclear power, along with the lack of sufficient storage, would have caused congestion and spills of renewables into the grid.
It is further added that nuclear power lacks technical capacity to stabilize the network in the event of power surges, according to communications from the electricity companies themselves to Red Eléctrica. In contrast, renewables with technology of grid formation They could perform that function, a tool pending regulation that already operates in countries like Portugal.
This reading links to the debate on the future mix and the inefficiencies that would arise from block renewables in times of surplus. The priority, according to this vision, is to accelerate storage, demand management and grid reinforcement to integrate more clean generation.
Although the public debate continues regarding the role each technology should play in the security of supplyDecisions on extensions would be subject to criteria of safety, cost and compatibility with climate objectives.
In any case, the operational integration of nuclear power into a system with a large renewable energy component requires fine planning to prevent spills, increase the overall flexibility, and minimize costs to the consumer.
Europe: between "renaissance" and stagnation
The narrative of the "nuclear renaissance" clashes with recent data: from 2010 to 2024, the world nuclear power It went from 370,9 GW to 375,5 GW, an increase of 1,2%During that same period, wind and solar photovoltaic power grew by 262%, up to 4.448 GW.
In the European Union, nuclear power fell from 120 GW in 2010 to 97 GW in 2024 (a decrease of 19,5%), due to the closure of Germany and the stagnation of the French fleet. Furthermore, more than 78% of European reactors They belong to state-owned or public companies, which reflects the investment complexity of the technology.
However, the global commitment to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 It is gaining support (Senegal and Rwanda have recently joined). The World Nuclear Association states that the goal is achievable if the promises are kept; the IAEA, for its part, projects up to 992 GW in its high-scenario for mid-century.
China sets the pace with dozens of reactors under construction and on schedule shorterOutside of their ecosystem, projects accumulate delays and cost overruns: Vogtle In the US it entered service with delays and duplicate costs, and Hinkley Point C (United Kingdom) is also becoming more expensive and delayed.
The key for Europe will be to improve industrial execution and standardization of designs if it wants to regain traction, while adapting its energy policy to the massive integration of renewables.
Germany reopens the debate: halt to dismantling and focus on SMR
Following the nuclear phase-out completed in 2023, the new Berlin government, led by Friedrich Merz, has reopened the discussion and temporarily paralyzed the dismantling of the power plants, while evaluating how to reactivate some reactors or opt for small modular reactors (SMR).
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche has resumed contacts in pro-nuclear European forums, and the IAEA perceives that Germany is studying severely his return. The national plan of fusion It anticipates investments of up to 5.000 billion euros to boost pilot and industrial plants this decade.
Regarding SMRs, the Executive has commissioned a report from BASE and the Fraunhofer Institute, along with experts and consultants, to analyze the economic and regulatory viability and its integration into the mix, with preliminary conclusions expected by spring 2026.
Politically, the government is not considering a complete reliance on nuclear power, but is exploring an alternative. controlled recovery with a technological focus, in parallel with Brussels' favorable classification in terms of sustainability.
The German shift incorporates the possibility of deploying "smaller, smarter reactors" to bolster the Economic recovery, as has been argued from Bavaria, and opens a front of cooperation in the European Industrial Alliance on SMR.
SMR: technological maturity and costs under scrutiny
The discussion in Europe, and especially in Germany, centers on whether these designs will achieve standardization. serial economies and sufficient regulatory certainty to become cheaper and fully enter the electricity merit order.
In the short term, its massive deployment seems complex due to the development timelines and the need to strengthen supply chains, although several governments want to keep that option open as a complement to renewables and storage.
Overall, the future of nuclear power in Europe will depend on its ability to align costs. deadlines and security with climate goals and accelerated electrification, where renewables are leading the way today.
As Spain decides on extensions and Europe calibrates its ambition, the key will be to weigh costs, waste, flexibility and risks of the nuclear park versus the speed and price of renewables, storage and the grid, with an eye to a secure, competitive and climate-aligned supply.