The government’s update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) does not foresee any changes in the schedule of Closure of seven nuclear power plants in Spain nor changes to the so-called Enresa tariff, as reported by sources from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
This new update has been received differently by different sectors related to renewable energy as well as by environmental organizations.
The government and the ministry emphasize that the schedule is maintained included in the 7th General Radioactive Waste Plan (PGRR), which provides for the gradual closure of nuclear power plants until 2035.
Enresa Tariff
At the same time, they emphasize that no changes are expected in the Enresa Tariffwhich since July 1 of this year amounts to 10.36 euros per megawatt hour (euros/MWh).
This update of the PNIEC will be sent to Brussels to be reviewed after being approved this Tuesday by the Council of Ministers. As they explain, The plan includes 110 measures related to decarbonisation, energy efficiency, energy security, the internal energy market, scientific and technical research and innovation and cross-cutting aspects such as adaptation to climate change, the gender perspective and the demographic challenge.
In total he has a investment of 308 billion euros82% of them come private origin. Compared to a scenario without measures, the impact on GDP for 2030 will be +3.2%, which corresponds to 44,014 million euros. In addition, savings on fossil fuel imports will amount to 86.75 billion euros.
Reducing emissions
The PNIEC foresees a 32% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. In this sense, they also emphasize that theReducing air pollution will reduce premature deaths by 49%. Concretely, they would go from 11,952 people in 2019 to 6,095 in 2030, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
The ministry emphasizes that emissions from Greenhouse gases (GHG) have been decoupled from economic growth in Spain and which have a downward trend due to the measures implemented.
Clean electricity production
So, they explain that GHGs They have decreased by 55% in the country compared to 2005. By sector, the electricity production This is the one where emissions have decreased the most in recent years: 73% compared to 2019.
According to the same sources, this is due to the entry of renewable energies. In 2023, 53% of electricity production was produced using renewable energy.
At this stage of In 2024, this percentage is already 58%.. Furthermore, GHG emissions decreased by 35% in transport; 40% in industry; 45% in residential, commercial and institutional; 16% in agriculture; and 26.6% in waste management.
Renewable sector
The Renovables Foundation summarizes that this latest update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), definitively approved this Tuesday by the Government, “approves commitment to renewable energy and increases the share of renewable energy in the mix by 41% compared to the 2020 plan for 2030.
The entity notes that for the first time a goal of electrification of the economy is proposed, as proposed by the Renewable Foundation, and that a rate of 32% is established by the end of the decade. Currently, the percentage of electrification is between 24% and 25%. This figure is located “well below the 55% target set by Brussels“.
He emphasizes that the objectives, although ambitiousare necessary to achieve decarbonization and the industrial competitive advantage of our country. It also highlights the need to advance in electrification, encouraging storage and social acceptance of installations.
Lack of guarantees
However, they criticize the fact that “the governmentWe are still not betting on the electrification of demand and does not establish strategies or control measures to ensure that the target of a renewable electricity share of 81% is achieved.
Another point he criticises is that the publication of the PNIEC responds little to the demands of civil society and the sectors involved in the transition, although it took more than a year to update the project.
Satisfied wind energy
The Association of Wind Energy Companies (AEE) “welcomes the approval of the new royal decree of offshore wind as one of the drivers to achieve the ambitious objectives of the new PNIEC” and confirm that these are “achievable objectives” for this renewable energy.
After approval of the PNIEC, installation targets are maintained for this energy by 2030 of 62 GW, including 3 GW of offshore wind, already reflected in the project released in 2023.
From the EEA, they emphasize that in order to “achieve these objectives It is necessary to accelerate the current pace of processing and installation of wind technology, with a linear, agile and orderly development until 2030, and with an approach that takes into consideration the entire value chain located in our country.
For its part, the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) positively values the commitment to photovoltaic energy in the update of the PNIEC, and “congratulates MITECO for its commitment to renewable energiesespecially for the
photovoltaic, and underlines that the objectives, although ambitious, are necessary to achieve decarbonization and the industrial competitive advantage of our country.
Royal Decree for Wind Energy
Concerning the Royal Decree, by which The production of electrical energy is regulated in installations located in the mar, the EEA calls it “the long-awaited step the wind industry has been waiting for to activate the deployment of floating offshore wind on our coasts”.
The objectives for the development of offshore wind in Spain are defined in the Offshore Wind and Marine Energy Roadmap and in the new Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2023-2030. It is expected to reach up to 3 GW of offshore wind power by 2030.
This development, ordered, “environmentally friendly and compatible with other uses and activities at sea“will generate significant economic activity and create new jobs,” according to the EEA.
The Maritime Spatial Management Plans (POEM) approved in 2023 include an area corresponding to the High Renewable Energy Potential Zones (ZAPER) with a area 5,000 square kilometersor only 0.46% of territorial waters. To achieve the overall objectives of offshore wind development by 2030, less than 1,000 km² will be needed (less than 0.1% of the surface area of territorial waters).
Cold reception from environmentalists
Green Alliance, Ecologists in Action, SEO/BirdLife and Greenpeace regretted that the emission reduction targets the greenhouse effect (GHG) resulting from the update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) remain shorts.
Alianza Verde believes that the update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) has been coming “for a long time” and that “failed“, urging the Government to review the objectives for achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
Lost opportunity
Ecologistas en Acción stressed that the objectives “are far from what is necessary.” Through a series of messages on the social network ‘X’, the organization described the update of the PNIEC as a “missed opportunity” in the face of “lack of long-term planning and lack of clear targets for reducing energy consumption“.
Furthermore, he criticizes the fact that the PNIEC continues to rely on gas as a transition source during this transition.We need to move much faster and stop importing energy that violates human rights“Similarly, the organization called support for the export of large quantities of energy “unjustifiable.”
Positive but insufficient
From SEO/BirdLife, Juan Carlos Atienza, appreciated “positively” updating the plan, considered that “it continues to be insufficient with the ambition of addressing both the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
“The new PNIEC is a step in the right direction, but Spain has the capacity and the responsibility to lead with more ambition“, Atienza stressed.
Far from science
Greenpeace criticized in a statement that the PNIEC update does not introduce new additional measures compared to the 2023 draft that could increased emission reductions.
Like the rest of the organizations, it considers that even if the plan represents “an improvement” compared to the previous one, it remains far from the speed needed and what science indicates.
More specifically, the environmental group believes that the percentage of energy produced by renewable energies should have been set at 100%At the same time, he denounces the lack of additional measures to accelerate the abandonment of the use of gas, coal and oil, such as an orderly timetable for the closure of gas-fired thermal power plants or a plan to abandon subsidies for fossil fuels.
