On the outskirts of Figueruelas, a quiet town in north-eastern Spain, a towering wind turbine turns steadily in the breeze. It reflects Aragón’s growing role in Spain’s renewable energy transformation, as the region is now home to extensive wind and solar farms.
Figueruelas has recently gained even more attention with the construction of a massive electric vehicle battery factory nearby. The project is backed by a €4bn investment from China’s CATL and Netherlands-based Stellantis. According to China’s ambassador to Spain, this marks one of the largest Chinese investments ever made in Europe.
Local mayor Luis Bertol Moreno explains that Aragón was an obvious choice. The area benefits from year-round wind, long hours of sunshine, and a dense network of renewable energy installations. These clean energy sources are expected to power the new factory, making sustainability a central factor in its location.
The development highlights Spain’s renewable-focused energy strategy. In 2017, renewable sources generated about one-third of the country’s electricity. By last year, that figure had climbed to 57%. The government aims to raise renewable electricity production to 81% by 2030.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has strongly defended this green approach. Earlier this year, he countered former US President Donald Trump’s fossil-fuel slogan with his own message: “Green, baby, green,” emphasizing the economic and environmental advantages of renewable power.
However, Spain’s energy strategy has faced growing criticism in recent months. On 28 April, a widespread blackout plunged large parts of Spain and neighboring Portugal into darkness for several hours. Homes, businesses, public transport, and public institutions were all affected.
With no immediate explanation, the incident triggered intense political debate. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo accused the government of pushing renewable energy too aggressively, suggesting that over-dependence on green power may have contributed to the outage. Conservative voices have since called for a reassessment of Spain’s energy mix.
The government and national grid operator Red Eléctrica have rejected these claims. Grid operations head Concha Sánchez stated that Spain has previously operated with even higher levels of renewable energy without compromising system stability. She confirmed that renewables were not responsible for the blackout.
