Stand Up for Nuclear: Spain's 1st Pro-Nuclear Demonstration
On March 23rd, after months of planning, 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. You can view a video recap of the event here.
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 increased natural gas use, signifying 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 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 relatively low Spanish support 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 for the environment and a move backward in terms of climate.
Filled with excitement and 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. Advocates from Germany, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, the U.S., Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Peru, the U.K., and France, a total of 11 countries, traveled to the event to support our Spanish allies.
Econucleares 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.
“An informed society is a just one. Closing nuclear plants is a stupid decision. 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.
Törmänen’s speech focused on the Finnish experience with nuclear energy and she said nuclear is no longer taboo - the country recently extended the licenses of its oldest nuclear plants by 20 years and completed Olkiluoto Nuclear Plant which 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 – a culture that stifles such communication persists within the industry.
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, advocates mingled with members of the public, gathering insight into the public’s perspective and attitudes toward nuclear energy. For many, it was their first time engaging in conversations with people on the streets about nuclear. At first, it was uncomfortable but veterans of the movement were able to lend a hand and advise on how to spark productive conversations.
As the speeches came to an end, Sanchis and Altes gave their final rallying words, to mobilize advocates in the fight for Spain’s nuclear reactors. They left both local and international advocates with hope and motivation for their nascent and growing movement.
At the moment, Eco-Nucleares is the only civil society organization rallying against the nuclear closures and is finding itself 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, and avoided 5.5 million tons of CO₂ from being emitted into the atmosphere this past year alone.
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.
Stand Up is honored to have coordinated this effort with Econucleares, but the hard work starts now. To support the campaign against Spain’s nuclear phaseout you can,
Follow Econucleares on Twitter
Join the Econucleares team
