Majorca closes coal units early as Spain expands renewable energy

Authorities in Spain have granted permission to permanently close coal-fired units three and four at the Es Murterar power station in Alcudia on the island of Majorca.

This move happens four years ahead of the original schedule for the facility. Endesa, Spain’s largest electric utility company, stated that the closure will not compromise the security of the energy supply because the company will keep two gas turbines running at the site.

The regional government views the closure as a step toward decarbonizing the area. The non-profit Beyond Fossil Fuels said that Spain's focus on renewables has helped the country keep energy bills less vulnerable to gas crises than many other European nations. The International Energy Agency reported that this rapid expansion of renewable power has strengthened energy security and lowered fuel import costs for the country. Despite these gains, Spain still faces challenges in transitioning its entire energy system to electricity.

Currently, electricity only accounts for 25 per cent of the country's final energy consumption, which is below the 35 per cent target set for 2030. Factors such as high investment costs for industry, widespread fossil-fuel heating, and taxes on electricity contribute to this gap. To address this, the government plans to abolish the tax on electricity production in 2026.