A Blackout Puts Spain’s Renewable Energy Strategy Under Scrutiny

On the outskirts of Figueruelas, a small town in Spain’s Aragón region, wind turbines dominate the skyline, a visible sign of the country’s accelerating energy transition. The area’s abundance of wind and sunshine has now attracted one of Europe’s largest clean-energy investments: a €4bn battery factory jointly backed by Chinese firm CATL and automotive group Stellantis.

China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, described the project as among the biggest Chinese investments ever made in Europe. Local leaders say the region’s renewable capacity was decisive. “We’re surrounded by wind turbines and solar panels,” said mayor Luis Bertol Moreno, noting that renewable electricity will power the new facility.

Spain’s energy shift has been swift. Renewables accounted for just a third of electricity generation in 2017; last year they supplied 57%. The government aims to raise that figure to 81% by 2030.

Political Commitment Meets Growing Scrutiny

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has championed renewables as both an economic and environmental strategy, summarising his approach with the slogan “Green, baby, green.” But Spain’s full commitment has come under pressure following a 28 April blackout that left much of Spain and neighbouring Portugal without power for several hours.

The outage ignited political controversy. Conservative opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused the government of “fanaticism,” arguing that over-reliance on renewables may have destabilised the grid. The criticism was amplified by the fact that solar energy had reached a record 61.5% of Spain’s electricity mix just days before the blackout.

The government and grid operator Red Eléctrica have firmly rejected the claim. “We have operated the system with higher renewable rates with no effect on security,” said Concha Sánchez, the company’s head of operations. She said the outage stemmed from a combination of factors, including unexplained voltage oscillations, and confirmed that a cyberattack had been ruled out.

An Energy System at a Crossroads

Since April, Spain has temporarily increased its reliance on natural gas, reinforcing perceptions that the country is reassessing its energy balance. This has emboldened advocates of nuclear power, which currently supplies around 20% of Spain’s electricity.

The government plans to close all five nuclear plants between 2027 and 2035, a move that would make Spain an outlier in Europe, where several countries are extending or expanding nuclear capacity. Operators of the Almaraz plant, the first scheduled for closure, have requested a three-year extension to 2030.

Ignacio Araluce, head of industry body Foro Nuclear, argues nuclear power provides stability that complements renewables. “It’s prudent to have a mix,” he said, pointing out that nuclear produces electricity continuously without emitting CO₂ unlike wind and solar, which depend on weather conditions.

The far-right party Vox has also entered the debate, calling nuclear energy “a crucial source of stability” and criticising the government’s handling of the blackout.

Storage and Grid Limits Exposed

Grid officials acknowledge Spain’s energy model is not without weaknesses. One challenge is the country’s limited interconnection with the wider European grid. Another is insufficient energy storage.

“We have taken a good path when it comes to renewable installation,” said Concha Sánchez, “but we cannot say the same regarding storage.” Without adequate storage, excess renewable power cannot be effectively banked for periods when generation falls.

These technical constraints add complexity to Spain’s ambition to rely overwhelmingly on renewables particularly as electricity demand rises with electrification and industrial expansion.

Investment Momentum Meets Political Uncertainty

Despite the debate, Spain’s renewable build-out continues and for towns like Figueruelas, it brings tangible benefits. The battery plant is expected to attract 2,000 Chinese construction workers and create up to 35,000 indirect jobs once operational.

Local resident Manuel Martín welcomed the development, saying such projects “revitalise the area” and create opportunity across construction and hospitality. “And the energy is free,” he added. “It just depends on the sun and the wind.”

Yet uncertainty looms. Spain’s governing coalition has been weakened by corruption scandals, raising the prospect of a snap election. Polls suggest a right-wing government could emerge, one likely to scale back renewable ambitions and favour more conventional energy sources.

For now, Spain remains committed to its green trajectory. But the blackout, the nuclear debate, and political instability have exposed how fragile and contested that transition may be.