The Energy Challenge gets back on the road to raise awareness of our planet’s environmental challenges

With a strict health protocol in place to guarantee visitor safety, the Energy Challenge recently visited several towns in Asturias and is currently in Galicia, where it has already been to Lugo, Vilalba and Arteixo. This week, it can be found in Parque de la Alameda in Santiago de Compostela. Over the coming weeks, it is scheduled to visit Pontevedra (from 30 November to 4 December), A Coruña (from 9 to 12 December) and Ourense (from 14 to 18 December).

The Managing Director of the Naturgy Foundation, María Eugenia Coronado, highlighted the fact that “this ground-breaking initiative that explains the planet’s energy-related environmental challenge in a very didactic way” has been launched again. “Now more than ever we feel it is our duty to walk alongside citizens and, especially, the educational community, to spread knowledge about the new technologies available in the field of energy,” she affirmed.

In turn, Eva Buch, Head of Education and Dissemination for the Foundation, explained that, “as a communication resource, we want to respond to a call being made by teachers for access to STEM training resources with full safety guarantees and health protocols in line with those of their centres”.

Following the suspension of this initiative due to the COVID-19 health crisis, the Naturgy Foundation has adapted the Energy Challenge to the regulations established by the national health authorities and those of each Autonomous Community, with the aim of ensuring all its visitors can stay safe.

Since its launch in December last year, within the framework of COP 25 in Madrid, this informational resource has received more than 6,000 visitors.

A futuristic aircraft with suggestions to solve the energy challenge

The Energy Challenge invites people to reflect on energy consumption, air quality and the circular economy, in an interactive space journey on board an efficient vehicle guided by the state-of-the-art Energy 360 robot.

Through the 360° projection of around one hundred videos and a system of rotating seats, the visitors themselves become part of a space mission to solve the energy challenge at a time of transition to decarbonisation like today.

On their 20-minute journey, crew members observe the Earth and the Cosmos to reflect on and become aware of the planet’s climate emergency and the need to contribute to key issues such as the circular economy, air quality and new technologies and energy carriers, such as renewable gases.

The initiative shows the key role of innovation and responsible consumption habits in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to energy.

What’s more, the Naturgy Foundation has installed this experience in an environmentally friendly 70 m2 vehicle, which has a dual natural gas engine. When running, it generates between 15% and 20% less CO2 emissions than conventional diesel engines. It also helps improve air quality by reducing emissions of particles by 39% and NOx emissions by 30% compared to a vehicle running on diesel fuel alone.

The Naturgy Foundation’s dissemination vocation

This project forms part of the education and awareness-raising programme being carried out by the Naturgy Foundation in various Spanish cities on energy- and environment-related issues. Its fundamental objective is to promote the rational use of energy resources, energy efficiency and technological innovation among citizens, in a manner consistent with environmental protection.

Set up by the power company in 1992, the Naturgy Foundation seeks to educate, train, inform and raise

awareness throughout society of energy and environmental issues. It also develops social action programmes both nationally and internationally, in particular by supporting initiatives aimed at alleviating energy vulnerability.