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 debate over the future of the electricity system, the electrification of the economy and the energy transition, Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant plays a strategic role in ensuring the stability of Spain’s electricity system. Its ability to generate electricity continuously, synchronously with the grid and independently of weather conditions provides valuable support to the electricity system and contributes to low-emission electricity generation during operation.
Since entering commercial operation on 11 March 1985, it has continuously contributed to the country's electricity generation, with safety, operational reliability and environmental responsibility as its top priorities.
Technical characteristics of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant
The plant covers an area of approximately 300 hectares and generates electricity using a boiling water reactor (BWR/6, designed by General Electric), protected by a Mark III containment system. It has a gross electrical capacity of 1,092 MW and operates on fuel cycles of approximately 24 months, after which refuelling outages are carried out along with the main maintenance, inspection and upgrade activities.
The containment system is designed to ensure that, in the event of an incident, steam and water from the reactor remain contained, preventing the release of radioactive materials into the environment. The plant is also equipped with 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.
From an environmental perspective, the plant operates under an Environmental Management System certified to the ISO 14001 standard. Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant is also registered under the European Union's EMAS III Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, the EU's highest voluntary standard of 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 in the Cofrentes-Ayora Valley region. Since the start of its commercial operation, it has contributed to the area's socioeconomic development by creating stable, specialised employment, engaging collaborating companies and supporting the activity of suppliers linked to the plant.
The facility generates:
- More than 700 direct jobs.
- More than 1,000 indirect jobs.
- 1,200 additional jobs during refuelling outages.
- Business opportunities for specialised companies and local suppliers, particularly during refuelling outages and 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 promotes scientific and technological understanding and has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors since opening, helping the public better understand how the plant operates and the role of nuclear energy in the electricity system.
For all these reasons, the future of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant should form part of the debate on the future of Spain's 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 Europe.
Currently, Spain's nuclear phase-out schedule provides for the permanent closure of Cofrentes Nuclear Power Plant in 2030. The end of its operations would have a very significant impact on the surrounding area, affecting a facility that is central to economic activity in the Cofrentes-Ayora Valley and to the network of companies and suppliers linked to the plant.
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