Four cooling towers at the former Endesa thermal power plant in As Pontes, A Coruña, were demolished on July 30 [1].
The demolition represents a physical milestone in Spain's broader strategy to eliminate coal-based power generation and transition toward a "zero energy" framework [3]. By removing these obsolete structures, the region moves away from the carbon-heavy infrastructure that defined its industrial landscape for decades.
The facility originally opened in 1976 [1]. For 50 years, the plant served as a primary energy hub in Galicia, but the aging infrastructure eventually became incompatible with modern environmental standards and the European Union's climate targets.
Local authorities in As Pontes had scheduled the demolition for July 30, ensuring the event took place after the local Fiestas del Carmen [2]. The timing allowed for the necessary safety perimeters to be established without disrupting regional holiday celebrations.
The process involved the controlled collapse of the four towers [1]. This action removes the most visible remnants of the plant's cooling system, which were designed to dissipate heat from the coal-fired boilers used to generate electricity.
Officials said the move is part of a larger effort to reduce the use of coal in Spanish electricity generation [3]. The removal of these towers is a prerequisite for the eventual repurposing, or full decommissioning, of the site to make way for cleaner energy alternatives.
“The demolition represents a physical milestone in Spain's broader strategy to eliminate coal-based power generation.”
The collapse of the As Pontes towers symbolizes the end of the coal era in Galicia. As Spain pushes toward carbon neutrality, the decommissioning of such massive industrial sites is necessary to clear land for renewable energy projects. This transition, while environmentally critical, often creates economic challenges for local municipalities that historically relied on the thermal plant for employment and industrial stability.
