Mallorca abandons coal ahead of schedule: the closure of Es Murterar and lessons from Spain's energy transition

Mallorca shuts down its coal plant four years ahead of schedule

Mallorca has received permission to permanently close coal units 3 and 4 of the Es Murterar power plant in Alcúdia, in the north of the island. The regional government views the decision as a step forward in decarbonisation: the closure comes four years ahead of the planned deadline. This was reported by Euronews.

What is happening at the site and why supplies are not at risk

Spain's largest power company, Endesa, says that abandoning coal will not jeopardise the reliability of electricity supply: two gas turbines will continue operating at the Es Murterar site. Thus, this is not a complete shutdown of the plant, but specifically the decommissioning of coal generation while retaining gas as backup.

Context: the renewables boom and its measurable payoff

The announcement coincided with the publication of a report by the International Energy Agency, which notes that the rapid growth of renewable generation has 'strengthened Spain's energy security and competitiveness' and reduced fuel import costs. According to the figures cited in the publication, between 2011 and 2024 the country saved about $26 billion (roughly €23.27 billion) on costs related to natural gas imports; installed renewable capacity more than doubled over the decade, reaching 119 GW, while greenhouse gas emissions fell by about a fifth. According to the think tank Ember, in 2025 solar power accounted for 21.9% of electricity generation, wind 20.4%, gas 21.5%, while coal accounted for just 0.9%. The non-profit organisation Beyond Fossil Fuels links this to a deliberate strategy: 'By phasing out coal and expanding solar power instead of switching to gas, Spain made its energy bills less vulnerable to the gas crisis than in most European countries.'

The main obstacle is not generation, but electrification

At the same time, the IEA report identifies a bottleneck: despite cheap 'green' electricity, electricity accounts for only 25% of Spain's final energy consumption — well below the national target of 35% by 2030. Electric vehicles remain relatively scarce, especially in corporate fleets, fossil-fuel heating is still widespread, and industry faces high upfront investment costs. The situation is exacerbated by a price distortion: taxes, levies and network tariffs keep electricity prices high for end consumers, while fossil fuels carry a comparatively lighter burden. Among the response measures cited is the abolition of the tax on electricity generation in 2026; the report also notes that further alignment of price dynamics while protecting vulnerable consumers could strengthen incentives for electrification.