Recently, the International Energy Agency together with organizations such as the World Bank and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), published a report entitled “Sustainable Energy for all. Global Tracking Framework. Progress toward sustainable energy. 2017”. The report focuses on the need to optimize three key areas of global energy to achieve the goals set for 2030:
- Access to electricity.
- The renewable energies.
- Energy efficiency.
In addition, the European Union and other bodies have set ambitious plans for 2030, where renewable energy plays a crucial role in reducing emissions and in the transformation towards a green economy.
Access to electricity: A challenge still pending
Access to electricity remains a global challenge, especially in regions of Africa and Asia. Today, more than 1.000 million people still lack access to electricity. In Africa, the lack of energy infrastructure is critical in countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia, seriously affecting their economic and social development.
In Asia, while the situation is improving slightly thanks to stand-alone solar PV systems, millions of people still do not have full access to electricity. According to the IEA report, if drastic changes are not made, 2030% of the population will remain without electricity by 8. This situation underlines the importance of continuing to increase efforts to expand electricity distribution networks, promote self-consumption and improve local and national energy infrastructure.
La Sustainable energy access initiative for all (SEforALL), promoted by the UN, aims to eradicate energy poverty through electricity in all countries. In addition, it seeks to rely on renewable energies to accelerate this process, which is also aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7 and 13.
Renewable energy: Growth with great potential
Throughout the world, the renewable energy have experienced sustained growth, but there is still much to be done. Sectors such as solar photovoltaic energy and wind energy have grown significantly, and this is largely thanks to the reduction in technological costs and the greatest investment in research and development of green technologies.
On the other hand, key sectors such as transport and buildings have begun to absorb a greater percentage of renewable energy. These two sectors represent a large part of energy consumption worldwide. In fact, the European Union has established that transport must reduce its consumption greenhouse gas emissions by 16% by 2030. This will be achieved primarily through the use of advanced biofuels y non-biological fuels like hydrogen.
The transport sector also has a goal of increasing the use of renewable energy in 1,9 percentage points annually, which will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels in favor of a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable transportation system.
The heating sector, especially urban heating, also has promising goals. It is expected that by 2030 this area will increase its use of clean energy. 2,3 percentage points annually, according to EU estimates. This, combined with investments in infrastructure and technologies such as heat pumps and geothermal energy, can radically change how thermal energy is managed in cities and rural areas.
In the European context, the European Commission has proposed that renewable energies reach at least 45% of total energy consumed by 2030, significantly strengthening the role of renewables in the decarbonisation of the economy. This effort is part of the legislative package “Fit for 55”, which seeks to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels.
Energy efficiency: Key to responsible consumption
El energy savings is one of the fundamental pillars for the sustainability of the global energy system. Countries such as Australia, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom have managed to reduce their energy intensity by more than 2% annually, mainly in the industrial sector. This has been achieved through policies to promote energy efficiency and the rational use of resources.
However, energy consumption in the residential sector is increasing in many countries due to the growing demand for household appliances and a more technology-dependent lifestyle. This behaviour is contrary to the reduction objective, which means that action in this sector must be strengthened.
In European Union, work is being done on the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which establishes that final energy consumption must be reduced to a 40% for the year 2030. This directive also promotes initiatives for the consumption and the renovation of buildings, which will allow States to reduce their energy demand with innovative and sustainable projects at local, regional and national levels.
Furthermore, it is important to mention that energy efficiency measures are not only focused on residential sectors, but also on companies, data centers and public buildings, as part of a European commitment to optimise energy use.
Nearly zero-energy buildings: The future of construction
Buildings that comply with the Passivhaus certificate They are an example of energy efficiency in the construction sector. These buildings limit their primary energy demand to less than 120 kWh/m² per year, which practically makes them zero emissionsIn countries like Spain, there are already more than 40 buildings certified under this standard.
This construction model is key to the regulatory processes that will be implemented in the next decade. European Union aims for new buildings to be virtually zero-energy by 2030, supporting the transition towards a decarbonised and sustainable economy.
The Passivhaus model not only aligns with the goals of reducing CO2 emissions, but also guarantees a healthy and comfortable environment for its inhabitants, achieving a positive impact on both the environment and public health by reducing the number of sources of pollution.
The transition to a sustainable and decarbonized economy by 2030 depends on the investment in renewable energy, an increase in the Energy Efficiency and increased coverage of access to electricity. These factors are essential to limit global warming to acceptable levels while generating economic and social benefits for developing countries and emerging economies.