Spain plans renewable energy innovation center to address industrial transition after Vandellòs nuclear plant closure

The municipality of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant in Catalonia, Spain, is promoting the construction of a research, training, and innovation center for renewable energy to address the potential industrial gap left by the future closure of the Vandellòs II nuclear power plant. The project, named the "Innovation, Research, and Training Center for Efficiency and Renewable Energy" (CIRFER), will be located on municipal land in the Les Tàpies industrial estate, aiming to sustain the technical foundation and employment ecosystem that has long developed around the energy industry in the area.

According to the plan, the first phase of the project is expected to launch in 2028, with a budget of 3.9 million euros and a total investment scale of approximately 6.7 million euros. Funding will primarily come from the "Nuclear Transition Fund" (FTN), and the project has already received approval from the fund's managing body, though it still awaits final confirmation from the Catalan regional government, with the approval decision expected in October. The first phase will focus on constructing buildings for teaching and research purposes. The project design work is scheduled to begin this year, with preliminary earthworks potentially starting as early as 2027.

One of the key functions of this center is to cultivate talent needed for the energy transition. Local authorities estimate that the center can accommodate up to 500 students annually, including students in intermediate and advanced vocational education, as well as participants in professional certification courses offered by the Catalan employment service. Training areas will cover electricity, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water resource management, with dedicated spaces also set aside to support research activities.

Assumpció Castellví, mayor of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, stated that the municipality aims to establish CIRFER as a benchmark project in Spain and across Europe, driving new economic activity through education, research, and industrial collaboration. The project was initiated by the municipal government and is being advanced jointly through the municipal economic promotion company IDETSA and Rovira i Virgili University, reflecting a collaborative approach among local government, academia, and industrial institutions in the energy transition.

The second phase of the project is planned for implementation after 2032, with an estimated additional investment of approximately 2.8 million euros. This phase will include the construction of a corporate exhibition area where companies can showcase related projects and research outcomes, as well as the expansion of additional energy innovation spaces. Future directions may also include battery recycling and battery performance improvement. To date, the project has attracted participation from the Catalan Energy Directorate, the Tarragona Provincial Council, trade unions, the Reus Chamber of Commerce, and private enterprises, making it a significant initiative for early planning around nuclear decommissioning and green economic transformation in the region.