The Partido Popular (PP) includes in its program for the general elections on November 29 a broad plan for Spain to become a “energy superpower of Europe,” focused on abolishing the shutdown calendar for the nuclear power plant and on reducing the tax pressure on the electricity bill.
In its policy proposal, the party headed by Alberto Núñez Feijóo sets as its objective, if it wins the election, to process within the first one hundred days of government the elimination of the closure schedule of the nuclear power plants of Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes and Trillo, always with the prior approval of the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN). With this, it would put an end to the current plan—already altered after the extension of the operating life of the two Almaraz reactors—which provided for the gradual withdrawal of nuclear energy until 2035.
The PP thus proposes reviewing the Plan Nacional Integrado de Energía y Clima (PNIEC) “with realism.” “Nuclear, renewables, storage and sufficient backup will complement each other, and all technologies will compete on equal terms in auctions, grants and regulation,” the text states.
The program also includes the approval of a national strategy for nuclear energy and Spain’s involvement in European projects for advanced reactors and small modular reactors.
At the same time, the PP wants to promote long-term electricity supply contracts to ensure stable prices for both industry and households.
“Technological neutrality and supply security will guide every decision. It will not be the Government that decides which technology should win, but its capacity to offer secure, clean and competitive energy,” the document emphasizes.
In the fiscal area and user protection, the conservatives propose the immediate elimination of the 7% tax on electricity generation, the launch of a shock plan in response to the high costs of the system adjustment services, and the creation of a “Single Social Tariff,” meant to replace and improve the current electricity and heating vouchers.
The package is completed with the implementation of a Statute of the Energy Consumer, homogeneous contract models and automatic compensations for customers who experience prolonged supply interruptions.
Urgent plan to strengthen the grids in 18 months
With regard to power grids, the PP proposes an 18-month emergency plan to resolve bottlenecks that prevent the electrical connection of new industrial, logistics, technological, residential projects and data centers, optimizing the capacity already reserved and strengthening interconnections with the rest of the continent.
To avoid a new blackout like the one recorded on April 28, 2025, the party wants to approve within six months new system operating rules, an enhancement of real-time supervision, and the requirement to have technically sound alternatives before shutting down gas or hydroelectric power plants.
Along the same lines, the program provides for boosting energy storage through batteries and reversible hydroelectric installations "-which raise water to a reservoir to generate electricity afterward- and other competitive technologies".
The PP also states that it will modernize grid management to reduce the costs of maintaining system stability and that every serious incident must be accompanied by a public report detailing its causes and the measures needed to prevent it from happening again.
Climate change and waste: scientific rigor "without dogmatisms"
In terms of sustainability and waste management, the PP argues for addressing the climate crisis from "scientific rigor" and "without dogmatisms," revising the schedules it considers unfeasible in order to adapt them to actual demand and the level of technological development.
"The time has come to review the pace of each sector by looking at three factors: what is happening in the rest of the world, the technology that is truly available, and the evolution of demand. We will put a stop to the imposition of impossible schedules. We defend an orderly, realistic and fair transition that makes it compatible to protect the environment with economic growth and well-being. Citizens should not lose opportunities or suffer a disproportionate increase in the cost of living due to climate policies," the document highlights.
In line with this approach, the PP announces that it will back the circular economy by making use of the infrastructure and capabilities already existing in Spain, without imposing any additional new regulatory obligations.