The closure of the last two coal units at the Alcúdia power plant marks a turning point in the islands’ power model. Endesa will keep two gas turbines operational while exploring new uses for the site, which could host renewable energy sources and storage systems.
Mallorca is preparing to abandon coal-fired power generation. The regional government has authorized Endesa to permanently close units 3 and 4 of the Es Murterar thermal power plant in Alcúdia, the last units on the island to use this technology. The decision marks the end of an era in the energy history of the Balearic Islands and the beginning of a new one, in which the future of these facilities lies in exploring new energy solutions.
The closure has received a favorable report from the system operator, who considers that the decommissioning of the two units can be carried out without compromising the electric supply to the archipelago. Es Murterar, however, will continue to have a role in the Balearic system: Endesa will keep two gas turbines, with a combined capacity of 75 MW, operational to help ensure its stability.
The decision also matters for the company itself. After closing its coal-fired power plants on the Iberian Peninsula, the Alcúdia units were the last of this technology type that Endesa still had operating in its generation portfolio.
From a coal-fired power plant to a new energy center
The next chapter for Es Murterar involves more than simply shutting down its coal-fired power plants. Endesa will dismantle the two units and begin their subsequent decommissioning, a process that, according to the company, will be carried out in accordance with the principles of the circular economy and sustainability.
The transformation will be gradual. The options under consideration include the introduction of new renewable capacity, electricity storage systems, and other technologies designed to strengthen the energy security and resilience of the Balearic Islands. Specific applications will be defined as the process moves forward.
The project also includes specialized training initiatives to facilitate the participation of local workers in dismantling and conversion tasks, with the aim of generating economic activity in the area.
The Regional Government and Endesa intend to maintain a coordinated approach to support this development, taking into account both the islands’ energy needs and any development opportunities that may arise alongside the facilities.
The energy transition
The closure of Es Murterar is part of a change in approach that goes beyond the phasing out of a specific technology. The Balearic Islands must increase their share of renewable energy, but they must also have the capacity to meet demand and maintain the stability of the island power grid.
Endesa currently has five operational photovoltaic plants in the Balearic Islands, all in Mallorca. They are located at Sa Caseta in Llucmajor; Nou Biniatria and Ca na Lloreta in Alcúdia; and Son Reus and Son Orlandis in Palma. The Goleta-Xalana photovoltaic complex, planned for Santanyí, will be added to this portfolio.
At the same time, the Son Reus and Cas Tresorer combined-cycle power plants, the Alcúdia gas turbines, and the power plants in Ibiza and Maó continue to provide the system with controllable generation capacity, according to the company. They play a vital role in a region where the expansion of renewable energies must coexist with the need to guarantee a reliable supply at all times.
The Regional Government considers that eliminating coal-fired electricity generation in Mallorca represents a step forward in decarbonizing the region. The challenge now will be to continue this transformation gradually, ensuring that the introduction of new technologies is in line with the safety and stability requirements of the Balearic Islands’ electricity system.
Es Murterar is no longer exclusively linked to coal, but is destined to become a place that will evolve in line with the islands’ energy model. The transformation has not yet taken shape, but the direction is already clear: to maintain the site’s role in energy production while making way for new alternatives for generating, storing, and managing electricity.