We have been explaining for a long time: the current energy model is devastating for the climate, for pollution in cities, and for our energy dependence on external sources. Even so, it is difficult for society as a whole to fully believe it. And with the war in Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the new energy crisis, we are reaping the fruits of our stubbornness: price volatility and concern about supply. What more needs to happen?

Nuclear energy has a very bad reputation, and ever since Chernobyl, it has earned the fear it inspires. However, this hasn't stopped many countries from continuing to invest in it because they need it to function. In Catalonia alone, it accounts for more than 50% of the energy we generate. The Fukushima earthquake, now 15 years old, gave ammunition to anti-nuclear activists, and several countries, including Germany and Spain, began denuclearization plans, relying on seemingly stable gas and oil reserves and the possibility of adapting to renewable energies for long-term sustainability. The war in Ukraine, which cut off the supply of Russian gas, and now the Gulf War, have changed things.

Abertis is making progress in promoting the circular economy, one of the main pillars of its sustainability strategy, which will extend until 2030. Following this roadmap, the group already recycles 80% of its waste, thanks to improvements in the sorting and recycling processes resulting from highway management. Along these lines, the company has deployed an environmental management system across all its business units, which allows for monitoring the management of each type of waste and aims to maximize its recycling rate. This has involved installing collection points for conventional and hazardous waste in many of the maintenance areas of the various highways. New contracts have also been awarded to companies specializing in waste management in several countries. Pavement with plastic, pine resin, and other recycled materials

Another of Abertis's key priorities is the use of recycled materials and the reuse of milled material in pavements, without compromising the durability and safety of the infrastructure. The initiative the group has been promoting since 2022 through the JEPL concession in India stands out, involving the use of pavement made with recycled plastic. This option reduces environmental impact, improves surface grip, stability, and flexibility, provides greater durability, extends the lifespan of roads, and reduces the amount of asphalt needed for road construction, thus boosting efficiency.

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The event, presented by journalist Laura López, featured two roundtables moderated by Antoni Bassas. The first brought together the Director General of Energy for the Government, Marta Morera; the Director of Endesa in Catalonia, Enric Brazis; the Northeast Regional Delegate of Redeia, Trinidad Sala; and the Technical Director of Energy for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands at Veolia, Oriol Morell. They all agreed on the need to accelerate the transformation of the electricity system, as well as the importance of more efficient and stable regulation, improved public-private collaboration, and an environment that facilitates investment in renewables.

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"It's a historic mistake." With these words, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the European Commission's proposal to lift the total ban on the sale of combustion engine vehicles starting in 2035, thus weakening one of the key principles of the European Green Deal. "It's a historic mistake for Europe because competitiveness is guaranteed through sustainability, not by weakening our climate commitments," Sánchez stated this Wednesday during his speech at the presentation of the State Pact for the Climate Emergency in Madrid. Now, the proposal must be negotiated between the Council and the European Parliament for final adoption. In the Spanish government's opinion, the argument of the automotive industry's competitiveness, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used this Tuesday to defend the proposal, is not robust enough to justify reversing the progress toward the energy transition and the fight against climate change.

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The environmental crisis is crying out for an energy transition. We cannot continue consuming fossil fuels, or planet Earth will become uninhabitable for humans. Extreme weather events remind us of this with increasing frequency. We must accelerate the development of renewable energies: solar panels and wind turbines. How are things standing? Data: globally, between 2012 and 2022, the combined share of wind and solar power increased from 1% to 5% of total energy consumption. This is significant growth, but we are still far from replacing hydrocarbons. In fact, the increase in growing global demand has only been partially offset by the integration of immensely populated countries like China and India into the global economy. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, the consumption of coal, oil, and gas has continued to grow in the 21st century, including the current third decade.

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Trinidad Sala has held the position of Redeia's delegate in Catalonia for just over a year, but in that time she has had to take on the management of important projects closely linked to the country's economic and social development and the energy transformation of its main companies. According to Sala, "we are boosting the Catalan economy with electrical infrastructure essential for the country's future."

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In a context of high energy prices and a transition towards more sustainable models, companies and industries are seeking solutions that allow them to consume more efficiently, reduce costs, and take advantage of the growth of renewable energy. In this scenario, demand flexibility and battery storage are emerging as key tools for more efficient, competitive, and intelligent energy.

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In Catalonia, the shift towards a more sustainable electricity system is progressing rapidly, but it's often forgotten that the revolution can also begin in everyday places like a supermarket. The Bon Preu Group wants to demonstrate this: demand flexibility—the ability to adapt when and how we consume energy—is key to balancing the system and making better use of renewable resources. Transforming our stores into energy players is not just a technological commitment; it's also a commitment to sustainability, as it encourages greater consumption of energy from renewable sources, enabling us to realize the energy future we all envision.

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Catalonia has established itself as the leading region in Spain for collective self-consumption, a system that allows several households, businesses, or public facilities to share the energy generated by a single photovoltaic installation. This model, which was virtually unknown just a few years ago, is now a key pillar for advancing towards a fairer, more sustainable, and more participatory energy transition.

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More sustainable port facilities. This is one of the objectives of the energy transition plan presented this Tuesday by the Port of Barcelona. This document, derived from the port's fourth strategic plan, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% by 2030 compared to 2017 levels, "the equivalent of the annual emissions of 240,000 cars." Furthermore, it intends to reduce them by 85% by 2040 with the goal "of becoming a carbon-neutral port by 2050." Investments in infrastructure are projected at approximately €920 million from private funds and €780 million from public funds. The plan encompasses all the measures the Port of Barcelona is developing to "decarbonize port activity, guarantee the supply of sustainable energy, both environmentally and economically, and become a leading center for energy activities." In this document, the Port of Barcelona ceases to treat energy as a commodity, considering it "a strategic factor, key to strengthening the competitiveness of the port and the region in an increasingly demanding global market." Furthermore, it adds that this transformation "will consolidate the Port of Barcelona's leadership in both the maritime and port sector and the entire logistics chain, driving the energy transition far beyond the port area." This roadmap includes an action plan with more than 150 initiatives, grouped into four main areas: the decarbonization of port activity; the sustainability of energy consumption; resilience to guarantee energy supply; and innovation to facilitate the emergence of new business models and the adoption of emerging technologies. Electrification

It incorporates concrete measures to promote energy efficiency, aiming for 50% of port activity to be electrified by 2030 and for 65% of container ship and cruise ship gangways to be connected to Operational Power Systems (OPS), allowing them to shut down their engines while in port—a figure that will increase to 0%. Local energy production is also a focus, with the goal of having 100 megawatts (MWp) of photovoltaic energy installed by 2030 and exploring approaches that enable strategic management. Furthermore, the production of 100,000 tons of sustainable fuels annually is planned, including both biomethane and synthetic fuels. These fuels are a key element in the decarbonization of maritime transport, as the capacity to supply them allows for participation in maritime green corridors and attracts the most efficient and sustainable ships. "The energy transition plan shapes port planning for the coming years and will transform our energy model, generating new business areas. All actions taken and to be taken in the Port of Barcelona are designed and planned with the energy transition in mind. Sustainability already permeates the entire port business," stated the president of José.

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“When the city council gets involved, the citizens do too,” says Carol Ródenas, a resident of El Prat de Llobregat, standing under a brand-new photovoltaic pergola recently built in the town. The installation, which will also serve as a climate shelter, will generate 1 MW of energy—equivalent to the annual consumption of 300 families—for the city's water treatment facilities and for the community energy project that El Prat launched in 2022, of which Carol is a member. “It's not just about the financial savings; it's the pride of being part of this transition, of reducing emissions, of using clean energy generated right here in the municipality,” she adds. This isn't an isolated initiative: to promote the energy transition, the city council is installing photovoltaic panels on all municipal rooftops. It also has a network of shared electric vehicles to decarbonize transportation, explains Susanna Laredo, coordinator of Environmental Action, Energy, and Urban Services for the El Prat City Council.

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The European Union and the United States have burned more fossil fuels in 2025 than the previous year and have increased their CO₂ emissions, contrary to the downward trend of the last two decades. This is revealed in the annual Global Carbon Budget 2025 report, an analysis of CO₂ emissions prepared by the Global Carbon Project, which is being presented on the occasion of the Brazil climate summit, COP30, and which, for the first time, projects emissions for 2025. According to the study, the world as a whole will emit 1.1% more CO₂ in 2025 than in 2024, continuing the upward trend in global emissions, which are expected to reach at its peak before 2030 if we want to keep global warming below 1.5°C as called for by the Paris Agreement.

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Global energy consumption broke records in 2024 across all its forms: coal, oil, natural gas, and renewables all reached their highest points to date. But the only one that can be said with absolute certainty to decrease in the future is coal, which is projected to reach peak demand before 2030 and then begin to decline. In contrast, oil and natural gas will only stop growing if the world's governments fulfill their climate commitments—that is, the plans they have submitted to the UN to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This is the conclusion of the International Energy Agency's annual report, the World Energy Outlook, which was released this Wednesday at the [event/conference/etc.]. UN climate summit in Brazil, COP30

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Efficiency, self-consumption and digitalization will be some of the central themes of the day Industrial Energy Transition: Driving Competitiveness, Efficiency & ProfitabilityThe event, which will take place next Wednesday, November 5th, at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona, is organized by Fira de Barcelona and the Catalan Energy Efficiency Cluster (CEEC). It will bring together companies with high energy consumption in their production processes to address practical solutions to the challenges of the energy transition. The day will be an exclusive meeting point for managers and energy decision-makers in industrial environments, where they will share real-world experiences, success stories, and strategies that are already making a difference in leading companies. The program, which has the support of the Ministry of Industry, will analyze the electrification process, the role of self-consumption, and the impact of energy costs in energy-intensive sectors. The event aims to boost operational efficiency, competitiveness, and energy resilience.

The aim of the meeting is to provide attendees with concrete tools to boost operational efficiency, competitiveness, and energy resilience in a context marked by cost volatility and new regulatory requirements. The various sessions will cover topics ranging from the impact of energy bills on Spanish industry to the most innovative technological solutions applied in industrial environments. A highlight of the sessions will be a roundtable discussion with representatives from companies such as ROCA Group, DOW Chemical, Alimrall, and Alier, who will share real-world experiences on energy efficiency management within their organizations. In addition, companies like Schneider Electric, Veolia, and Endesa will present cutting-edge solutions that are transforming energy management in the industrial sector. The event will conclude with the presentation of the study "Socioeconomic Impact in Spain of a Competitive Electricity Bill in Industry," prepared by the consulting firm PwC Spain, which will offer a quantitative view of the benefits of an efficient energy policy for the national productive sector.

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From the renewable energy community, we eagerly awaited an agreement on Decree Law 12/25 on renewables. We desperately wanted it because we are aware ofthe great lack in which we find ourselves after years of immobility. Surprisingly and with great sadness, we have discovered that there is no agreement, and that we are once again returning to what, on a practical level, is a moratorium on renewable energy. A colossal disaster, in short.

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The concept transition It usually indicates the transition from situation A to situation B within a given time. Normally, A and B are understood to be clearly different, almost like two disjoint sets (without common elements). B replaces A. However, this is often an illusion, especially in the political sphere.

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The implementation of renewable energies has become established as a fundamental element in the path toward the decarbonization of the energy system. These clean sources not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also provide benefits such as greater energy sovereignty and lower electricity costs for consumers.

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The acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy in Catalonia was the theme of the event organized last Tuesday by the newspaper ARA and the Efficient Energy Cluster of Catalonia (CEEC), with the support of the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN). With the provocative title "Without Fear of Renewables," the event brought together voices from the government, the business world, and the region to address the challenges, opportunities, and collective strategies for addressing a key issue for the country's future.

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Endesa and Iberdrola have made moves to extend the useful life of nuclear power plants, including the Almaraz I plant in Cáceres, which is the first to be shut down, in November 2027. For now, however, the attempt has been derailed. Both companies have submitted a proposal to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, which the Ministry has rejected—according to sources from this ministry who spoke to ARA—because it "does not meet the red lines" that Pedro Sánchez's administration has put on the table for assessing the extension of the useful life of this technology. Specifically, the Spanish government's three red lines are: ensuring safety for people and security of supply, and ensuring that the decision does not entail additional costs for citizens.

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