Catalonia accelerates toward a sustainable energy future

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.

The starting point was clear: the transition to renewable energy is not an option, but a strategic necessity. As Ignasi Clariana, representative of the CEEC, expressed, "we have not been able to build a solid consensus" on renewables, and this has fueled social resistance, beyond the usual bureaucratic obstacles. For Clariana, the key involves working collectively, with an inclusive, socially just, and territorially balanced approach.

The event, moderated by ARA journalist Antoni Bassas, featured a first panel where three key figures in the Catalan government's energy sector met: Marta Morera, Director General of Energy; Anna Camp, Director of the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN); and Daniel Pérez, Director General of La Energética. During the day, the three speakers addressed topics such as how administrative barriers are being addressed and resolved, the social rejection of renewables, and the need for a more participatory and regionally rooted model. All three agreed that the moment is crucial and that accelerating change is essential.

The experts' view

Morera emphasized that the current energy model still relies on fossil fuels. He noted that energy is responsible for 73% of greenhouse gas emissions and that twenty strategies are needed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Despite advances in self-consumption and electric mobility, he acknowledged that the implementation of large renewable energy projects remains a weak point.

For his part, Camp emphasized the need to bring the energy transition to the social and local level. In this regard, he stressed that "we are experiencing a period of acceleration in the energy transition" that must be taken advantage of, and warned of the importance of implementing these initiatives locally and overcoming the barriers that block small projects with a significant community impact.

Pérez, in turn, focused on the lack of electrical infrastructure as one of the major outstanding issues. He argued that without a good transportation network, neither industry nor renewable energy can grow. "Industries will go wherever there are cables," he stated. He also gave the example of a much-needed battery factory in Mont-roig del Camp, currently at risk due to legal opposition from a group.

One of the major challenges discussed throughout the day was social resistance to the projects. "The CEO climate barometer from two years ago showed that 80% of the population is in favor of renewables," Morera stated, "but often only those who are against them are visible." He also noted that each project scrupulously meets all regulatory criteria for respecting the environment and the landscape. This opposition, according to Pérez, is not exclusive to Catalonia: "In Germany, France, and Sweden, there are also legal challenges against renewables."

The ICAEN director also emphasized the desire to reach a regional consensus in achieving the country's objectives. With this goal in mind, and to correct the current imbalance in the implementation of renewable energy in different parts of the country, the government is developing the Territorial Sectoral Plan for Renewable Energy (PLATER), which is still being drafted. This plan should establish criteria for balance and capacity distribution across the country.

The current challenges of renewable energy

Another critical point was the impact of the blackout on April 28th, which highlighted the vulnerability of the current grid and led to the subsequent approval of a decree-law declaring electricity storage an infrastructure of paramount public interest. All speakers agreed that the collapse cannot be blamed on renewables, but rather on the lack of a modern, smart grid. Its objective is to guarantee the reliability of the system in a future with more distributed and intermittent generation.

Regarding energy policy, Pérez asserted that for the first time there is a real desire for leadership: "The president has taken the lead," he affirmed. The new interdepartmental commission for strategic energy projects will report directly to the Presidency, with the aim of unblocking projects and overcoming potential obstacles caused by resource or administrative hurdles.

The conference concluded with a clear message: Catalonia is at a key moment to take a leap forward in the energy transition. The next 18 to 24 months will be crucial for unlocking projects, improving the electricity grid, and strengthening collaboration between institutions, businesses, and citizens. The ambition is high—reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030—but the speakers agreed that this will only be possible if commitment is maintained, communication with the region is improved, and a sustained effort is made to overcome regulatory and social obstacles. And, as became clear throughout the debate, the cost of inaction is much higher than that of embracing the challenges of change.