Madrid (AP) – Friday 0500GMT
The massive power outage that struck the Iberian Peninsula on April 28 has rekindled a debate in Spain over the country's plans to phase out its nuclear reactors as it generates more electricity through renewable energy.
As people await answers about the reasons for historic cuts, which suddenly destroyed tens of millions of lives, some questioned the wisdom of retired nuclear reactors that offer a stable (if controversial) form of energy compared to renewables whose output can be intermittent compared to renewables.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected such criticism and demanded patience, while the government investigated what caused the power grid to be disconnected. He said his administration will not “deviate from a single millimeter” energy transition plan.
Here is what you know about energy debate:
What is nuclear energy and why is it controversial?
Nuclear energy is a zero-carbon energy source formed by nuclear fission. When the nucleus of an atom is divided into two or several parts, it releases energy.
According to the International Energy Association, it accounts for about 10% of global electricity generation.
Many countries believe that nuclear energy is crucial to achieving the net zero target. But while nuclear reactors don’t emit warm greenhouse gases such as gas or coal-fired power plants, they produce radioactive waste that is difficult to deal with even advanced economies.
Why did Spain retire its nuclear reactor?
The country's power grid operator Red Eléctrica said Spain generated nearly 57% of its electricity in 2024 from renewable sources, such as renewable energy. About 20% comes from nuclear power plants.
In 2019, the Sanchez government approved a plan to decommission the country's remaining nuclear reactors between 2027 and 2035, as it further expands its share of renewable energy. The country aims to generate 81% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030.
Sánchez said on Wednesday that the four nuclear facilities online on the day of the outage would not help re-push the grid.
Batteries and other methods help regulate changes in wind and solar power supply.
Why question Spain’s renewable energy drivers now?
Although the cause of the sudden power outage on April 28 remains unknown, the incident raised questions about the technical challenges of the grid operating in high solar and wind.
Before Spain lost 15 GW of electricity, solar and wind lost 15 GW of electricity (about 60% of the supply) in just five seconds.
Gilles Thonet, deputy secretary-general of the International Electronics Technical Committee of the Industry Group, said the grid was designed for different eras.
“Traditionally, power flows in one direction: from large coal, gas or nuclear power plants to houses and businesses,” Thonet said. “These plants not only provide electricity, but also provide stability. Their rotating turbines, like shock absorbers, smooth out the fluctuations in supply and demand.”
According to Google Trends, Google searched for the “nuclear” peak in Spain in the days after the power outage.
Spain's nuclear lobby said this week that the government should reconsider its plans to decommission its nuclear reactors after the power outage. Its president, Ignacio Arale, said online before the power outage, “providing firmness and stability.”
Will more nuclear power stop power outages?
Others say it is too early to conclude that nuclear energy should play a role.
“We don't know the reason for the oscillation,” said Pedro Fresco, director general of Avaesen, Valencia's renewable energy and clean technology company. “So we don't know what will be allowed to control.”
Spain's power grid operators narrowed the source of disruption to two separate incidents last week, with the substation in southwestern Spain failing.
Environment Minister Sara Aagesen said earlier this week that the grid initially encountered another power generation bureau within 19 seconds before the power outage.
In a speech to parliament, Sanchez said that “there is no empirical evidence” that more nuclear power on the grid could prevent power outages or allow the country to return to online speeds faster. In fact, after the online power outage on April 28, the four nuclear facilities were part of an emergency agreement to avoid overheating.
He said nuclear energy “has not proven to be an effective solution for what we experienced on April 28,” and called the debate surrounding the government’s nuclear phase-out plan “a huge manipulation.”
Gasoline and hydropower in Morocco and France, as well as electricity transmission, were used to re-line the country's grid.
