Fighting to Save Existing Clean Energy: Stand Up for Nuclear Spain Event
On March 23rd, advocates from over 11 countries joined our allies, Econucleares, who hosted the first pro-nuclear energy demonstration in Spain’s history. Convening in the heart of the Gothic quarter in Barcelona, an architectural beauty, we rallied to protest the planned closure of Spain’s seven nuclear reactors.
Econucleares co-founders Guillem Sanchis Ramirez and Marc Altes Soler set up tables with information, posters, and large banners in the bustling Sant Jaume Plaza. Co-opting the colors and style of those opposed to nuclear energy, they featured a massive yellow banner indicating that losing nuclear energy leads to more natural gas use, equaling a loss for the climate.
(In the last years, we have seen worldwide that nuclear plant closures lead to an increase in fossil fuel consumption in order to replace the lost electricity. This past year, Belgium saw a 13% increase in CO2 emissions after the closure of Doel 3 and Tihange 2. Following the wake of the German closures, Germany has announced plans to spend $16 billion on natural gas development to meet energy needs.)
Activists arrived early in the morning to set up an information table in the plaza, make handmade signs and posters, and engage with the public. While PACE, a recent public opinion study on nuclear energy found a relatively low Spanish report for nuclear energy compared to other countries, advocates reported that most people they talked to had favorable impressions of nuclear, especially by the end of conversations. To our delight, two TV stations– Radio-Televisión Española (RTVE) and Televisión de Cataluña (TV3) – came and interviewed the Eco-Nucleares team, and coverage of the event was generally positive.
For the event's launch, the activists assembled in a line, holding up hand-made pro-nuclear signs, and took seven symbolic steps backward, one for each reactor slated for closure. A step back signifies that these closures are a regression and a move backward.
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Hyped by the energy, advocates launched into speeches, giving both domestic and international perspectives on the importance of nuclear energy and its necessary role in Spain’s electricity grid. Individuals from Germany, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, the U.S., Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Peru, the U.K., and France, 11 countries in total, traveled to the event to support our Spanish allies.
Eco-Nucleares member Ana Otero González, a Spanish native, highlighted her experience as a nuclear engineer living in France and shared her frustration at her nation’s inability to have an honest and factual conversation about nuclear energy.
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“An informed society is a just one. Closing nuclear plants is a stupid decision,” González said. “Nuclear plants are meant to last longer than 40 years. We need to decarbonize. Why close a low carbon energy source?”
Tea Tormanen a Finnish Biologist and environmentalist, traveled with her young daughter, who
inspired her to travel to Spain to fight against the closure of clean energy.
Her speech focused on the Finnish experience with nuclear energy and she shared how nuclear is no longer taboo - the country recently extended the licenses of its oldest nuclear plants by 20 years and completed the Olkiluoto plant that now supplies 31% of the nation’s electricity.
“It’s a lively atmosphere. We are having a lot of good conversations. My hope is that Spain will cancel this phaseout,” Tormanen said. “Extending the lifetime of these plants is the most cost-effective climate action you can take.”
Juan Carlos Sañudo, a nuclear operator, courageously spoke and shared an inside look into the community of workers who run these clean energy citadels. This stands out as a rare example of industry workers speaking out alongside civil society at a pro-nuclear demonstration – there remains a culture that stifles such communication.
Attendee Cesar Penafiel, a retired software engineer and a nuclear advocate based in Portugal, was excited to attend the demonstration and converse with Barcelona locals on nuclear energy. He said, in no uncertain terms, that the closures would be a climate catastrophe for Spain and Europe.
“It’s terrible for the planet. To replace nuclear with gas, which is what it would be replaced with, would not just be a waste of money but an environmental crime,” Penafiel said. “(I hope the protest will achieve) awareness. Media awareness. In the last 10 years, there’s been a big shift in peoples’ view of nuclear. We can slowly create this snow globe effect.”
Throughout the 5 hour event, a mix of tourists and advocates mingled with members of the public, gathering insight into the public’s perspective and attitudes towards nuclear energy. As the speeches came to an end, Sanchis and Altes gave their final rallying words propelling the nascent battle for Spain’s nuclear reactors.
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Eco-Nucleares is the only civil society organization rallying against the nuclear closures and finding themselves in a battle against time. The first reactor in Spain set to close in 2027 is Almaraz 1 and needs legal action this year to create a pathway for life extension. The two-reactor plant produces 7% of the nation’s electricity, enough for 4 million Spanish homes each year. In 2023, the plant avoided 5.5 million tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.
Spain’s nuclear fleet is an integral part of its grid and the largest source of clean energy. It provides over 20% of the country’s total electricity.
In the region of Catalonia, where Barcelona is, it receives 60% of its electricity needs from nuclear energy alone. The rest of its power comes from gas, hydro, and wind. If the plants in the region are closed we will see an uptick in fossil fuel production.
To support the campaign against Spain’s nuclear phaseout, please donate or join the eco-nucleares team.