Veolia, a strategic partner for the decarbonization of cities and industry

The Catalan economy faces a historic challenge: reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This goal, aligned with European guidelines, requires a profound transformation of the energy model, which involves creating new infrastructure and improving decarbonization. In this scenario, Veolia, a leader in decarbonization and optimized resource management, is consolidating its position as a strategic partner to support public administrations, buildings, and industries in their ecological transition. The company combines technological innovation, sustainability, and technical expertise to offer customized solutions with a real and measurable impact. District heating and cooling networks are a key solution for decarbonizing cities using renewable energy, offering flexibility and efficiency. In Catalonia, where 80% of the population lives in urban areas, this model is particularly relevant. District heating and cooling networks can integrate multiple renewable and waste energy sources, offering flexibility and resilience to the energy system. Furthermore, its centralized management allows for optimizations that would be impossible with decentralized systems: temperature adjustments based on actual demand, thermal storage to manage peaks, and predictive maintenance using advanced sensors.

Hubgrade, a smart solutions hub

Veolia is a global leader and operates nearly 600 networks worldwide (10,500 km of pipelines, 19,300 MW of power equivalent to the consumption of 9 million homes). In Catalonia, the company currently manages networks connecting everything from industrial parks to entire neighborhoods, resulting in significant energy savings compared to conventional systems. The digitization of these infrastructures, through Veolia's smart solutions center, Hubgrade, also allows for anticipating breakdowns, optimizing consumption in real time, and providing users with complete transparency regarding their carbon footprint.

The challenge of ETS2: rehabilitation and energy efficiency in buildings

The extension of the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS2) to buildings from 2028 marks a turning point. For the first time, building heating and cooling emissions will have a direct cost, providing financial incentives for energy-efficient renovations. For Catalonia, with its aging building stock—55% of residential buildings were constructed before 1980—this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Energy-efficient renovations require a comprehensive approach that combines improvements to the building envelope, upgrades to heating and cooling systems, integration of renewable energy sources, and digitalization to intelligently manage all these elements. Veolia is committed to smart energy management for buildings connected to its Hubgrade platform with advanced monitoring solutions that optimize energy production and minimize environmental impact. Through real-time monitoring of facilities, high-performance algorithms identify instant improvement opportunities to optimize consumption, ensure supply, and correct any deviations.

Towards a more sustainable industry

The environmental challenges facing industry go beyond simply reducing emissions. The efficient use of energy and water to ensure stable, resilient, and growing production that can compete in the global market, as well as cost reduction, are now integral to companies' strategies and DNA. Now more than ever, it is essential that industries anticipate and adapt to new environmental legislation aimed at decarbonizing industrial processes, promoting the circular economy, and reducing the sector's water footprint. Furthermore, in a context of climate change and geopolitical tensions, industries must strengthen their operational resilience, ensuring the continuity of energy supplies and reducing their dependence on external resources. Energy solutions significantly reduce operating costs and strengthen energy independence. Choosing mature and technically sound solutions is essential for achieving a more sustainable and secure future for all.