Government and energy companies join forces in the necessary transition

The impact on the territory is one of the major outstanding debates in the energy transition in Catalonia, and energy companies are calling for more education and clear planning of the PLATER (Territorial Energy Plan).

The Energy and Territory roundtable focused on the relationship between energy deployment and its impact on the land, one of the major outstanding issues in Catalonia's energy transition, and the key role of PLATER (Catalonia's Sectoral Territorial Plan for Renewable Energies). The session brought together Anna Camp, director of the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN); Pere Borràs, generation director of Estabanell Energia; Ignasi Clariana, energy director of Sorigué; and Xavier Barquero, director of Marketing, Residential and Indirect Channel at Bassols Energia.

"We are at a moment of profound change. The bill was approved just three weeks ago, and that marks a turning point. When you inform residents from the beginning, the level of conflict decreases. It is important to be clear that projects have an impact, but also to clearly explain what the corrective and compensatory measures are, and to carry out constant awareness-raising work," explained Anna Camp.

The director of ICAEN ruled out a single solution for the entire region. "There are projects like wind farms linked to forest management that provide added value, for example, in fire prevention. Catalonia is a densely populated territory, but also very diverse. In some areas, the solution lies in biogas plants; each region has different needs, and this must be clearly explained." Like the wind turbines in the Empordà region. "They generate a lot of debate, and that's why regulation and good land-use planning are key, allowing for decisions to be made based on clear criteria."

Pere Borràs, generation director at Estabanell Energia, emphasized that investing "in distributed generation in Catalonia makes perfect sense. We are a very densely populated country, and we need to bring the infrastructure closer to the point of consumption. The key is presence: when you explain the projects and educate people, the tension drops considerably."

"One of the new aspects of the decree is the obligation to explain projects before they are implemented. The debate shouldn't be 'yes to renewables, but not like this,' but rather how we can all move forward together." Therefore, "it's important that local councils have a comprehensive vision and that there's a clear division of responsibilities. There's a widespread demand: that energy be produced nearby. Currently, the only mechanism is a 500-meter radius if the installation is on land. Our proposal is to increase it to 5 km. This would be very helpful, because if you have a plant nearby, you'd really notice it."

Ignasi Clariana, energy director at Sorigué, spoke of the energy transition as an opportunity, "although some sectors argue that self-consumption is already sufficient, but that's not the case." The resistance it sometimes provokes is unparalleled compared to what happened in previous years: "Comparatively, while we used to accept much more invasive infrastructure like nuclear power plants, today any renewable energy installation generates debate, even though it's reversible. In many cases, the main problem is the visual impact." So, "it all starts with transparent planning. It's a complex process, and we have to know how to remove that small percentage that always says no from the equation."

For Xavier Barquero, Marketing Director for Residential and Indirect Channels at Bassols Energía, "trust is built on actions. The problem is that the energy debate often remains on an ideological level, even at the family level. The energy transition, territorial cohesion, and the fight against climate change are inseparable." Therefore, "territorial cohesion is key to guaranteeing the deployment of the system and equity in rights and responsibilities. It is essential that energy reaches everyone and that we do not abandon spaces for dialogue, so that politics does not end up contaminating a debate that should be collective."

As Anna Camp pointed out, "it is true that in some cases there are highly ideologized speeches of rejection. That is why it is necessary to exercise empathy with the mayors, especially those of small municipalities."

"I haven't yet encountered a widespread Trump or Vox effect, but each project is different and requires a tailored approach, and mayors need a narrative to explain to the public why these projects are being carried out," Ignasi Clariana agreed.

Oriol Amat, Professor of Financial Economics and Accounting at Pompeu Fabra University, was tasked with providing an independent perspective on the day's events, delivering a clear message despite the less-than-ideal economic data: "Investment in renewable energy is profitable for companies." The reason, he explained, is simply that "companies are now evaluated not only on their economic performance, but also on their social and environmental impact."

"Investment in energy and renewable technologies generally works well. They are profitable investments, with returns up to three times higher than those of fossil fuels, especially for large companies," he asserted. "Before, the only objective was to make money; now nobody believes that anymore. That's precisely why these investments are profitable. They have both economic and social impact. Furthermore, most young people want to work in companies with a purpose, and many of them are linked to renewables."

According to a UPF study, "before the 2008 crisis, only 30% of the population considered social responsibility when making decisions; today this figure exceeds 80%," he explained. Furthermore, "all the studies I recall indicate that these companies are more profitable, better valued by customers, and also by employees. Sixty percent of young people are even considering changing companies" if their current one doesn't align with their values.

Having said that, Oriol Amat also warned of the current difficulties facing the process of implementing renewable energies. He emphasized that "we are not on the right track." "I am an optimistic economist, but the data is not positive." He explained that "if we compare Europe with the United States, decades ago per capita income was similar, and today Europe is practically half that. And when we look at Catalonia specifically, we are also losing ground. Therefore, we are not on the right track. There are many causes, but most are related to the energy sector, which represents nearly 8% of GDP, and the problem is not just the quality of the energy itself, but how it is being implemented."

Issues related to the private sector act as a barrier. "There is little collaboration. In Europe, 22% of companies collaborate; in Spain, only 7%, at levels similar to Mexico or Turkey. There are also infrastructure and financing problems: there are very interesting projects that cannot secure funding."

Regarding price volatility, "there is a clear difference between large and medium-sized companies. SMEs pay approximately 15% more in energy costs. This gap has narrowed, but it still exists." Therefore, in Amat's opinion, "there is still much to be done," although the situation has now stabilized, given that "the cost of renewable energy is lower."

Legal uncertainty also works against them. "It doesn't just affect the energy sector; it's a structural problem for the country. Finland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, heavily dependent on Russia, and today it's one of the richest. They achieved this through national laws, such as those concerning education. Here, the energy sector should play that role. Catalonia is a wealthy country despite its low income; it has riches." And this is key when "many investments need up to eight years to show results."

Fortunately, we are now far removed from failed cases like Hola Luz or SolarProfit. "We have overcome the price war and the sector is in a more solid position, although there are still companies struggling." However, obtaining licenses is still a problem. "In some countries it takes two years, but here, six, and that generates costs and financial problems," and "the companies that are doing best are those that are better capitalized."