Europe to promote development of more efficient, more renewable and more consumer-accessible energy

The Climate and Energy Department of the European Commission and the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation organised an event today on the strategy proposed by the European Union to achieve the climate goals in the Paris Agreement.

Gas Natural Fenosa is a member of the “Make Power Clean” group of companies that support reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting them to 550 grCO2/kWh.

The energy transition includes three main key areas: improving energy efficiency; leadership in the profitable development of renewable energies; and greater involvement by the consumer.

Earlier today, the Climate and Energy Department of the European Commission and the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation organised a seminar in Barcelona entitled “Energy Efficiency, Renewables and Consumer Involvement” on the Winter Package – the energy strategy proposal presented by the European Commission for achieving the European climate goals in the Paris Agreement.

The event was opened by the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, The State Secretary for Energy, Daniel Navia, the Secretary for Business and Competitiveness of the Regional Government of Catalonia, Joan Aregio, and the CEO of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Rafael Villaseca.

Under the title of “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, the Winter Package is focused on the process of energy transition in three main key areas: improving energy efficiency; leadership in the profitable development of renewable energies; and greater involvement by the consumer.

The European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, said that “the European Union’s commitment to moving towards economic decarbonisation is unstoppable; it is a duty and not simply a political choice.” In fact, he explained that “energy systems are already heading towards renewable energy” in a process aimed at “giving citizens clean energy, but paying less and with more competitive companies”. The measures being promoted by the European Commission include financing for building renovation because “almost 75% of European buildings are inefficient”, said Miguel Arias Cañete. They also seek to increase the contribution from renewable energies in heating and cooling systems, which account for 50% of energy consumption.

The CEO of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Rafael Villaseca, explained that the company is a member of the “Make Power Clean” group of companies that support reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting them to 550 grCO2/kWh so that all technologies can join a Capacity Payment Mechanism“We welcome the ambitious package of regulations presented by the European Commission in December and particularly those measures that seek to send a clear signal facilitating achievement of the energy and climate goals set by the EU for 2030,” said the CEO of the power company in his speech.

Rafael Villaseca also mentioned the contribution from natural gas to sustainable mobility and stressed that “mobility solutions based on natural gas will unquestionably help improve air quality in our cities and reduce emissions from the transport sector, especially maritime transport and road transport, where it is the only technically and commercially available alternative.”  “Electric cars will clearly help achieve the renewables goal by increasing the demand for electricity and obtaining better use of existing generation capacity and infrastructures,” he added.

The keys: energy efficiency and renewable energies

The professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and author of the book entitled “Re-habilitación exprés para hogares vulnerables. Soluciones de bajo coste”, Margarita De Luxán, spoke about the energy-related refurbishment of buildings. “The energy saving potential in consumption for climate control in renovated buildings stands at 60% of current consumption,” she said. Margarita De Luxán also advocated the sustainable renovation of existing buildings.

The founder and director of Product-Life Institute, Walter R. Stahel, underlined the importance of designing energy-efficient products for which efficiency throughout their life cycle is considered. “By doubling the useful life of products, we are doubling grey energy efficiency per year that they are used,” he explained. Care, re-use and social innovation are used as consumption strategies for achieving this.

On behalf of the European Biogas Association, its president, Jan Stambasky, described biomethane as a renewable gas. “Use of biogas is a step towards the circular economy,” suggested Jan Stambasky.

The Economics and Regulation Partner of KPMG, Carlos Solé, explained “the leading role to be played by natural gas in the decarbonisation of the Spanish economy”. In order to achieve the 2030 energy goals, Carlos Solé said that “gas and renewables will allow Spain to achieve these goals in an economically efficient manner.”

The final part of the seminar focused on the third European goal, which relates to seeking greater involvement for consumers and users. In this regard, the new energy technologies that make greater consumer involvement possible were described. The Director for Engineering and Technological Innovation of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Blanca Losada, spoke about the impact of technological evolution on energy. “The decentralisation of energy and ultra-connectivity of the Internet place the consumer at the centre,” he said.

Furthermore, the emeritus research fellow at Oxford University and creator of the “energy poverty” concept, Brenda Boardman, discussed the energy vulnerability problem and how to competently and rigorously mitigate that problem. “Funding and economic efforts in the fight against energy poverty should be made by State budgets,” she said. She went on to add that public authorities “should directly invest in insulating and streamlining energy use in households with people at risk of energy poverty, as well as educate people on how to be more efficient”.

Commitment to society’s energy needs

Set up in 1992 by GAS NATURAL FENOSA and with a presence in every country where the company operates, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation is tasked with educating, training and informing society, as well as raising awareness about energy and environmental issues.

It also develops Social Action programmes both nationally and internationally, by influencing particular initiatives aimed at alleviating energy vulnerability. In the cultural sphere, it promotes initiatives that are geared both to preserving and disseminating the historical heritage of the gas and electricity sector through the Gas Museum and the Bolarque Museum, as well as educating and stimulating society artistically through the multidisciplinary space of the Contemporary Art Museum.

Popularising energy efficiency is one of the social commitments made by GAS NATURAL FENOSA and the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, along with the special attention that the company pays to the most vulnerable people. In fact, the company currently has a package of over 20 measures aimed at strengthening and systematising the care and protection of its most vulnerable customers; a national plan that boosts the actions it was already undertaking to protect the people in most need.

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