The energy transition is still a pending subject in Catalonia, which is still a long way from meeting the objectives set by Europe. At this time, there are 3,557.6 megawatts (MW) of installed power, five times below what is forecast for 2030, within seven years. By then, the figure of 15,408.4 megawatts produced by renewable energy.
To head towards this scenario, and as you may have learned THE NEWSPAPERthe Executive has drawn up a Roadmap that pretend to achieve that By 2050, Catalonia will have a carbon-free energy system. This will imply, on the one hand, an investment of 84,361 million eurosof which 51,000 million must be invested exclusively in the development of renewable energies, and on the other hand, the fact that the 2.5% of the Catalan territory is occupied and dedicated to energy uses.
Catalonia must go from 3,557.6 megawatts of installed power to 15,408.4 megawatts in seven years
In a first phase, with the horizon of 2030, Catalonia must quintupling the power of renewable energy produced to meet the intended objectives.
In recent years, they have built very few parks of this type of energy, just about 100 MW of power in wind energy (not counting self-consumption). But for months now something is changing: almost 300 projects from dozens of companies are already on the table of the Government to get the green light and start trading. With this, Catalonia will accelerate towards that 2030 goal.
It is expected that in 2050 2.5% of the surface of Catalonia will be occupied by energy uses
Specifically, there is 3,957.5 hectares of photovoltaic surface pending, pending approval, and 186 projects to build wind farms which also await the approval of the Administration.
At the Executive Council this Tuesday, the Government will approve the Energy Prospective of Catalonia for 2050 (PROENCAT)a study prepared by the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) which must be the guide to move towards a carbon-free energy system. This Roadmap It will be presented this Tuesday by the new ‘conseller’ of Acció Climàtica david mascort.
The plan contemplates a 30% reduction in energy consumption over the next 27 years
This plan details that the energy consumption 30% over the next 27 years if all the goals are to be achieved intended goals. “This will cause electricity consumption to increase,” he says Daniel PerezCEO of L’Energetica, the renewable energy company promoted by the Generalitat. But if the goal is to consume less, whathow can it be that there is more electricity expense?
In 2050 Catalonia will need 58,400 megawatts of green energy, 18 times more than what is produced today
Pérez exemplifies it with the simile of tomatoes: “It’s as if you require that the overall consumption of tomatoes in the world is reduced and that the consumption of organic tomatoes grows. The amount of organic tomatoes produced will have to increase. Well, the same thing happens with electrification. If we bet on reducing energy in general, we will need to consume more electricity to not rely so much on fossils“.
millionaire investment
still remain 12,000 MW of renewables to reach the 2030 targetbut it will still take more to get closer to 2050. At that time, it is estimated that Catalonia will need 58,400 MW of renewables more to have, then yes, a fully decarbonized electrical system. 18 times more MW will be required than the current installed renewable power.
This will imply, on the one hand, an investment of 84,361 million euros and on the other hand, the fact that 2.5% of the territory of Catalonia is occupied and dedicated to energy uses.
Right now, most of the wind farms that are already built are located geographically in the south of Catalonia. Those that are more to the north are in the Conca de Barberathe segarra and the Anoia. However, this could change when the planned future Galatea wind farm is built in the Alt Emporda and that you already have the government authorization.
The study carried out by ICAEN considers that renewables have to be installed minimizing land use, for this reason it is planned to occupy only 2.5% of the surface of Catalonia. An example of how to proceed is the recommendation for the installation of photovoltaic: the ideal, according to what the Government will approve this Tuesday, is that, in a 40% of casesbe built in artificialized zones. That is to say, industrial estates, degraded spaces or abandoned lots.
With the approval of this plan, they propose to accelerate the steps so that Catalonia resolves this issue that had remained pending: the energy transition. An energy storage system will be needed and also the deployment of non-electric renewables, such as the biogas or biomass.
demanding measures
Regarding the legal conditions that must be submitted by companies that intend to install wind or photovoltaic parks in Catalonia, the Generalitat will be demanding with respect to environmental conditions. In the case of the Galatea park, for example, the fact that the environmental authorization makes explicit the fact that the windmills must stop when birds approach is notable.
To this day, according to the data that this newspaper has accessed, the vast majority of projects are still in process and those that have been approved are still few. It must be taken into account that when the parks plan to produce more than 50 MW, they will need the authorization of the ministry. According to sources from Acció Climàtica, in the coming months these percentages will change and more projects will be approved, as long as they comply with the environmental requirements that are requested.
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“Dialogue and compensation with the territory is important when installing photovoltaic or wind farms,” warns Pérez. One of the measures that the Generalitat has already put in place, to encourage this to happen, is the obligation that companies have to give citizens the opportunity to participate financially in the project and receive part of the profits.
Just a few days ago, several environmental entities presented their manifesto ‘El futur és ara’ to demand that the Government move forward in the matter of reducing emissions. With PROENCAT, the framework that must be followed in the next 27 years to meet this ambitious objective is established: the energy neutrality in 2050.