In recent years, renewable energy has gained undisputed prominence on the global energy agenda. In Europe, Parliament has set ambitious targets for 2030, calling for 35% of energy produced to come from renewable sources. This milestone, in addition to being a huge boost, challenges nations to accelerate their energy transition.
The European panorama and the situation in Spain
To date, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Austria and Denmark are some of the European countries that have already met the objectives set for 2030. Sweden stands out with more than 54% of its energy coming from renewable sources, which demonstrates outstanding progress compared to other countries.
Although Spain has made significant progress, There is still a long way to go. By the end of 2022, the country reached 17% of renewable energy compared to the total, which is below the 20% required by the European Union for 2020. In contrast, Portugal, with similar weather and climate conditions, has reached 28%. The key to this discrepancy lies in greater investment and support for renewable energy projects in the neighbouring country, especially in wind and solar energy.
The European proposal for renewable energies
In order to accelerate the transition, the European Commission The EU has proposed raising the 27% target initially set for 2030 to 35%. This is a major change that could boost further initiatives in renewable energy infrastructure. However, the final decision on this target still depends on ratification by the European Council.
José MarÃa González, general director of APPA Renovables, stresses the importance of these objectives It is not just about the numbers, but in the clear signal they send to the industry to prioritize investments in renewables.
The situation in Spain
Although Spain has been at a disadvantage compared to other European countries, efforts have been made to close this gap. One of the biggest impetus has been the holding of three gigantic renewable energy auctions in recent years, driven by pressure from the European Union. These auctions will allow the installation of the MW needed to meet the set targets.
However, the country has experienced several years of stagnation, in which Not a single megawatt of new power was installed in renewables, due to the restrictive policies of the previous Spanish Government. This brake has been identified as one of the main reasons for the delay in the adoption of renewable sources.
An example of the importance of renewable energy at a global level can be seen in China, where A road equipped with solar panels has been builtThis shows that the major powers are already investing heavily in this type of energy, driven by the drastic reduction in costs in recent years.
Spanish companies that are betting heavily on renewables
Companies in Spain have begun to understand the value of clean energy and are redoubling their efforts to jump on the renewables bandwagon. Leading companies in sectors such as banking and construction have begun to invest in these energies as a key strategy to reduce their emissions and improve their sustainable corporate image.
Bankia and Nexus Energy
A concrete case is Bankia, which has signed an agreement with Nexus Energy to supply all its offices and branches with electricity from 100% renewable sources. This contract includes a supply of more than 87 GWh per year, which will generate significant savings for the bank.
Caixabank
For its part, CaixaBank is also betting on green energy by contributing to a biomass plant in Vinales, Chile, to offset its COâ‚‚ emissions. The entity has demonstrated its commitment to environmental conservation by financing this project that seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change.
A promising future
The objective of many Spanish companies in the energy sector is achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2040, generating 100% of electricity from renewable sources. In addition, by 2050, the plan is to have achieved total decarbonization of the country.
However, for this future to really become a reality, it is necessary that the public and private sectors continue to invest in sustainable and renewable policies in the long term. Only in this way will it be possible to achieve the ideal scenario in which no fossil fuels be used in Spain within three decades.
Spain has already made significant progress in installing wind and solar plants, and the future looks bright if this trend continues. With major companies such as Iberdrola, Forestalia, Capital Energy and Nexus EnergÃa leading the charge, the country is on track for a complete energy transformation.