Meet the Team – Carolina Bravo

MEET THE TEAM – CAROLINA BRAVO

• What is your role in BNZ?

I am the Head of Controlling in the financial department. My role at BNZ involves overseeing the preparation of Financial Statements for all Group companies, ensuring compliance with the applicable regulations in each country, as well as meeting legal and tax obligations.

• How long have you been working in the renewable energy sector?

Since the beginning of my professional career, I have been involved in the renewable energy sector for 14 years now.

• How do you think the sector has changed in these years?

I believe that the evolution of this sector in recent years is more than evident. We are all very aware of the goals set by the 2030-2050 Agenda and what this means for governments, the private sector and citizens as a whole. Proof of this is that even the major oil companies are tackling energy challenges and turning them into opportunities, investing in clean energies that contribute to decarbonisation and environmental improvement.

• What are the main challenges for the sector in the coming years?

I believe that the main challenge for the sector is how to deal with the intermittency of power generation and therefore the development of storage systems.

• And in the long term?

In this sense, I believe that the key lies in the approval of long-term policies that encourage the use of this type of energy and therefore promote investment in the sector. We must help to make renewable energies accessible to all, breaking down barriers to enter and trying to reduce the high implementation costs that are currently required.

New companies play a very important role in the whole process that is currently underway. These companies must compete against the commercial and economic interests of those who until now have been controlling the electricity market, therefore, the only way to be competitive in this sector is to be competitive in terms of prices, while at the same time being sustainable. This is where I see the main focus of the sustainable energy industry.

Finally, we cannot forget the key role of each and every one of us. This is why campaigns must be carried out to promote the use of this type of energy and where the clear benefits they provide are explained.

• What does BNZ have that its competitors don’t?

At BNZ we seek to do things right, that is, we always try to contribute to actions that leave a positive footprint on the environment and society as a whole.

• How do you see BNZ in 5 years?

As a European reference in the sector and in how to do things right.

• Which countries are making greater efforts for photovoltaic energy?

In view of the volume of investments being made in this sector, China and the United States are at the forefront globally, with an investment of 273 billion dollars in 2023 in the case of China, for example.  However, we cannot forget countries such as Germany, which is currently the European leader in solar capacity.

• What would you ask public administrations to promote this type of clean energy?

Public administrations have a fundamental role in the decarbonisation and energy transition process and, therefore, in the promotion of the use of renewable energies. That is why I believe that they should implement policies to encourage investment in this type of energy, eliminating the economic and legal barriers that currently exist.

• And the citizens?

I believe that we must work on social awareness in small gestures, small day-to-day actions. The sum of all of us can make a very positive contribution to the environment.

• What do you do in your day to day to reduce your carbon footprint?

I try to carry out small actions such as, for example, sorting waste for recycling, or using electric vehicles to move around, but I believe that, above all, the key is to set an example and raise awareness among the youngest in the household.

In Depth

• A hobby: Travelling around the world and getting to know different cultures.
• A country to travel: Without a doubt, I would travel to any country in Africa again.
• A city to live:
• An animal: Horses
• A movie or TV series: Any comedy that clears my mind and makes me have a good time.
• A book: The Time of the Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa.
• A type of cuisine:
• A historical figure: Cocó Chanel. A woman who was a pioneer and a fighter in her time, during the First World War she managed to break the barriers of the opulent and impractical fashion of the time.
• A colour: Blue.