Cofrentes nuclear power plant
Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant as an energy pillar for the Valencia region and Spain
Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant, located in the municipality of the same name in inland Valencia province, is an essential facility within Spain’s electricity system. It is the nuclear power plant with the highest installed electrical capacity of any reactor in Spain’s nuclear fleet. It is also one of the main drivers of decarbonisation and socioeconomic development in the Valencia region.
Cofrentes nuclear power plant
Key points about Cofrentes nuclear power plant
- Cofrentes nuclear power plant produces half of all the energy generated in the Valencia Region and 2.9% of total mainland Spain’s electricity production.
- Its output supplies the domestic electricity consumption of around two million homes.
- It generates more than 700 direct jobs, 1,000 indirect jobs and 1,200 additional jobs during fuel refuelling outages.
- It prevents the release of around three million tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
In the current context, marked by the debate on the future of the electricity system, the electrification of the economy and the energy transition, Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant plays a strategic role in the stability and reliability of the Spanish electricity system. Its ability to generate electricity continuously, synchronously and independently of weather conditions provides support for the system and contributes to low-emission generation during operation.
Since commercial operation began on 11 March 1985, it has made a continuous contribution to the country’s electricity generation while maintaining safety, operational reliability and environmental protection as its priorities.
Technical characteristics of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant
The plant incorporates technological solutions that ensure both the safety of the facility and operational efficiency. Covering an area of approximately 300 hectares, it generates electricity using a boiling water reactor (BWR/6), protected by a Mark III containment system and with a gross electrical capacity of 1,092 MW.
The plant occupies approximately 300 hectares and generates energy using a boiling water reactor (BWR/6, designed by General Electric), protected by a Mark III containment system. Its gross electrical output is 1,092MW and its operating cycles last approximately 24 months, after which fuel refuelling and the main maintenance, inspection and improvement activities are carried out.
The containment system is designed to ensure that, in the event of an incident, steam and water from the reactor remain confined, preventing the release of radioactive materials into the environment. The facility also has emergency safety and cooling systems with sufficient capacity and redundancy to maintain core cooling and bring the reactor to a safe shutdown condition in the event of a loss of the normal heat removal system.
In environmental terms, the facility operates under an Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001. Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant is also registered under the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS III), the European Union’s highest voluntary standard for environmental excellence, demonstrating its commitment to continuous improvement, transparency and compliance with the most demanding environmental requirements.
This commitment reflects the facility's dedication to generating electricity in an environmentally responsible manner and promoting the efficient use of natural resources, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Cofrentes nuclear power plant (Valencia – Valencia region)
Location: Cofrentes (Valencia)
Start of operations: 1985
Installed electrical capacity: 1,092 MW
How much electricity does Cofrentes generate and what share of Spain's electricity production does it cover?
Cofrentes nuclear power plant is a key part of Spain's electricity generation infrastructure. In 2025, it achieved gross electricity production of 7,434.26 million kWh. This represents approximately half of all the electricity generated in the Valencia region and 2.9% of mainland Spain's electricity production (according to provisional data from network operator Red Eléctrica de España). This contribution reflects the role of nuclear energy within Spain's energy mix, providing a stable, low-emission source of electricity generation during operation.
The plant operated with its generator connected to the electricity grid for 81.88% of the available hours throughout 2025. Its output is sufficient to supply the entire domestic electricity consumption of around two million homes. In addition, it prevents the release of approximately three million tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
7,434.26
Total GWh generated in 2025
3
millions of tonnes of CO₂ avoided
330,269
Cumulative gross electricity generation in GWh
2.000.000
homes supplied
50
approximately half of all the electricity generated in the Valencia region
Socioeconomic impact of Cofrentes nuclear power plant in the Valencia region
Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant is one of the main economic drivers of the Cofrentes-Ayora Valley. Since the start of commercial operation, it has contributed to the area’s socioeconomic development by creating stable, highly skilled employment, engaging partner companies and supporting the activity of suppliers associated with the facility.
The facility generates:
- More than 700 direct jobs.
- More than 1,000 indirect jobs.
- 1,200 additional jobs during refuelling outages.
- It generates business opportunities for specialist companies and local suppliers, particularly during refuelling outages, maintenance and modernisation activities.
- It produces half of all the electricity generated in the Valencia region and 2.9% of total mainland Spain’s electricity production.
In addition, its Information Centre contributes to scientific and technological outreach and has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors since opening, helping the public understand how the facility operates and the role of nuclear energy in the electricity system.
For all these reasons, the continued operation of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant should form part of the debate on the future of the Spanish electricity system, in a context shaped by the need to advance the electrification of the economy, maintain grid stability, ensure the competitiveness of Spain’s electricity supply and strengthen energy autonomy within the European environment.
Currently, Spain’s nuclear phase-out schedule includes the definitive closure of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant in 2030. The end of its operations would have a very significant impact on its surrounding area, affecting a key facility for economic activity in the Cofrentes-Ayora Valley and for the network of companies and suppliers linked to the plant.
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