Pere Borràs: "The current limit for self-consumption in distributed generation must be extended to a radius of 5 km."

Pere Borràs, director of Generation at Estabanell, calls for greater involvement from institutions to advance renewables and asks to extend the limit of distributed generation to a 5 km radius in order to make better use of this renewable energy.

In Catalonia, the debate surrounding energy projects is particularly intense and often polarized. Given this reality, what would you say to a citizen who feels that the energy transition is being carried out "at the expense" of the region?

— At Estabanell, we emphasize that the permitting process is extremely rigorous and always requires the approval of numerous stakeholders: urban planning, heritage, environment, roads, etc. All possible perspectives are considered, and any of those involved influences the final project. Only projects that meet every requirement move forward. Therefore, the process guarantees 100% viability. This is evidenced by the fact that 37% of projects are rejected for various reasons, 13% are approved, and the rest remain pending. Therefore, it is a demanding process, but the public can rest assured that only projects that are beneficial to the area are approved.

What do you propose to make the return to society evident, measurable, and directly linked to generation projects?

— Renewable energy is essential to moving away from fossil fuels. Therefore, a well-integrated renewable energy generation project, proportionate to its surroundings, is an opportunity to help curb climate change and has a direct impact on the environment. Strategically, we are always at the mercy of energy volatility. If we recall, when the war in Ukraine broke out, gas prices skyrocketed, and what we achieve with these installations is to limit external factors and make energy more affordable. We are promoting more sustainable energy that reduces emissions, saves costs, and improves people's well-being and the competitiveness of businesses. That is why, at Estabanell, we are insisting that it is necessary to extend the current limit for self-consumption in distributed generation projects to a five-kilometer radius, in order to better harness this renewable energy. Currently, it is only 500 meters, and it makes no sense that the surrounding area cannot directly benefit.

In the regulatory context, the fact that Congress did not approve the so-called "anti-blackout" royal decree is still fresh in everyone's mind; what was your interpretation of that?

— We were surprised that such a technical and positive royal decree as this one wasn't approved. The good news is that other measures for self-consumption within a 500-meter radius have been approved through smaller decrees, such as Decree 997/2025. We are requesting that shared self-consumption be applied up to 5 km away for ground-mounted projects that connect to the distribution network. And not only, as I mentioned, on rooftops, but also on the ground, because everyone benefits, and the public directly experiences the advantages of the kind of installations we are proposing.

And what assessment did he make of the latest decree law approved by Parliament on November 19?

— Something similar happened in Catalonia in July, when the decree of urgent measures was repealed. The procedures have been improved, streamlining and accelerating energy storage. Some doubts have been cleared up and self-consumption has been facilitated, but what we miss, beyond the deadlines, are the processing times. It would be beneficial if we could have a system of tacit approval to move projects forward.

The debate surrounding the permitting process is central to the renewable energy sector in Catalonia. How do you plan to engage in dialogue with the local communities?

— We explain ourselves where necessary, with complete transparency and objective data. We also take this opportunity to explain what we mentioned earlier: the procedure for carrying out a renewable energy installation is absolutely rigorous, and this is the positive aspect. Catalonia continues to lag behind the rest of Spain in renewable energy generation, which forces us to rethink how we accelerate the energy transition. We need a more sustainable model that allows us to reduce our dependence on energy generated outside of Catalonia, which we then have to export. Therefore, it would be advisable for the developer to be able to submit a declaration of responsibility certifying that the project does not harm third parties, so that the process can move forward without obstacles or the risk of having to backtrack.

From your perspective, what role can renewable energy generation play in the country's reindustrialization? What opportunities can it open up for the productive sector and for the regions where the projects are located?

— This generation of renewable energy has a direct impact on the region: it generates revenue for municipalities in the form of taxes and provides income to landowners through land leases. The Idescat 2024-2080 report concludes that, during this period, an average of €170 million in revenue will be generated annually for municipalities and €91 million for landowners. The advantage is that these earnings are redistributed throughout the region and not just in the two towns that currently have nuclear power plants. And in terms of employment, we are talking about 4,000 jobs per year in the construction phase and an additional 29,000 direct and indirect jobs that will be generated.

Energy has been at the center of debate lately: first with the price surge of 2022 and, more recently, with the massive blackout of April 28. Do these events present an opportunity to connect more with the consumer?

— It's helping us reflect on what kind of energy model we want and what role we want to play as a country. We have sun and wind, which gives us a tremendous opportunity to build a more secure, sustainable energy system aligned with the interests of the region. It's up to us to harness this potential to move forward or, conversely, to fall behind. Furthermore, these events have also opened the door to discussing everything that will make the energy transition possible with a more informed and active consumer: demand flexibility, energy storage, distributed renewable generation, smart grids, self-consumption, and new forms of energy participation. All of this shapes a more resilient and efficient model, where citizens cease to be passive actors and become key players in the system.