Domotics and improving habits raise energy saving potential in buildings by 82%
• Over 80 professionals took part in the summer course provided by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and Universidad de Barcelona to analyse the new role of more active and involved energy users.
• The debates focused on the issues of electricity self-generation and self-consumption models, energy poverty and energy use efficiency.
• Raising awareness in society, automation, connectivity and the Internet of Things are opportunities to be harnessed in our homes for achieving efficient energy management and streamlining energy bills.
The summer course, entitled “Energy, Economics and Society: energy models, self-consumption and energy poverty” and organised this week by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation in partnership with Universidad de Barcelona, examined the new role of domestic energy users. The experts attending the course examined the causes and consequences of the change taking place in users, who have gone from playing a passive role to demonstrating a much more active attitude in energy management.
The General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, the Chair of Energy Resources at Universidad de Barcelona, Mariano Marzo, and the Vice-Chancellor of Universidad de Barcelona, Dídac Ramírez, officially launched the course, which was attended by over 80 professionals.
Greater attention to energy cost variations, increased information and awareness about the environmental impacts of energy consumption, knowledge by users of the various energy alternatives and the “do-it-yourself” trend are a few of the factors influencing this change of attitude, according to the experts.
The Analyst from the Office of Socio-Political Analyst Studies, Juan Carlos Rodríguez, presented the changing perceptions of energy and energy companies in Spanish society, as well as the influence of the economic and political crisis on this change of perception. The speaker explained that there are signs of a greater willingness among the public to enter the debate and get involved in energy management at a domestic level, although he went on to say that the public should be involved even more in the public discussion on energy. For this to happen, it is essential to increase knowledge about the energy sector.
The Team Manager from Boston Consulting Group, Javier Argüeso, explained that the energy industry worldwide is evolving and facing new challenges; on the one hand, customer expectations on energy companies are changing; and, on the other hand, regulatory changes are being made and technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Precisely that technological evolution is driving the development of new businesses with strong market potential.
Energy efficiency in the residential sector and transport
The EcoBuilding Program Manager from Schneider Electric España, Victor Moure, highlighted the new challenges brought by digitalisation and energy decentralisation, with a focus on the residential sector and buildings where he said there is an unharnessed energy efficiency potential of 82%. Victor Moure went on to say that issues from social awareness to automation span a considerable range of opportunities that multiply with the arrival of connectivity and the Internet of Things.
The presentation by the Researcher from the Centre for Transport Research (Transyt) of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Álvaro García, spoke about transport efficiency, recalling that transport accounts for almost 30% of energy spending in developed countries and over 90% stems from oil. Álvaro García mentioned some of the most outstanding measures for achieving more sustainable transport, such as guided urban planning, the encouragement of public transport and the use of shared cars.
Energy poverty
The social aspects of the electricity tariff were mentioned in the presentations about how to identify energy poverty and how to respond and mitigate it. The Professor from the School of Engineering of Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Pedro Linares, author of the study entitled “Pobreza energética en España 2015”, explained that energy poverty is a difficult concept to measure precisely. He said that objective and subjective measures are in place – each with advantages and disadvantages – and the most common are not necessarily the most appropriate.
In turn, the Studies and Regulatory Coordination Manager of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Ester Sevilla, explained that access to affordable and non-polluting energy is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and that only joint action from institutions, companies, regulators and social stakeholders can offer effective solutions to this problem. In Europe, the bill payment assistance models are resolving situations on a case-by-case basis but, in the long term, we need to seek structural solutions to both eradicate poverty in general and improve homes and energy consumption in particular.
Self-generation and domestic self-consumption
The course also tackled the various possibilities for self-generation and self-consumption at a domestic level, both using natural gas (cogeneration) and solar photovoltaic energy. Besides the specific features of each case, the experts agreed that self-consumption should be developed in an orderly and coherent fashion so as to avoid some customers subsidising others.
The Head of Training and Technical Support at BAXI, Alberto Jiménez, discussed the use of micro-generation machines for the simultaneous production of electricity and thermal energy, and explained that the use of this technology in heating installations and hot water production installations can reduce primary and non-renewable energy consumption by over 25% and CO2 emissions by over 20%.
A number of practical cases were presented by the rental company of the Regional Government of the Basque Country, Alokavide. The Customer Service and Communication Director of Alokabide, Igor Etxabe, presented the experience gained by this entity in the implementation of systems that help and foster energy efficiency and awareness.
The last day of the course will take place tomorrow, Friday, with presentations from the Managing Director of the Energy Research Institute of Catalonia (IREC), Joan Ramon Morante, and the Director of NERA, Óscar Arnedillo, who will discuss the issue of photovoltaic self-generation and self-consumption and decentralised electricity generation using solar photovoltaic energy.
Joan Ramon Morante will present the features and characteristics of current photovoltaic system technologies at a commercial level and will also examine the systems fitted with batteries for energy storage. The Director of NERA, Óscar Arnedillo, will speak about the economic aspects of decentralised electricity generation using solar photovoltaic energy, and will suggest that this type of electricity generation should be developed when it is truly efficient.
Finally, a closing ceremony will be hosted by the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, and the Chair of Energy Resources of Universidad de Barcelona and course director, Mariano Marzo.
The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation
The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992 by GAS NATURAL FENOSA, focuses its activities on promoting information, training and increased social awareness in improving energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy while respecting and protecting the environment, and promotes cultural activities through the Gas Museum aimed at preserving and spreading knowledge about the historical and cultural heritage of the sector. Its international activities are carried out in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy, Moldova and South Africa.
Barcelona, 07 July 2015.
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