Trends and opportunities for a green horizon
The auditorium of the Rosewood Villa Magna hotel was the setting for the round table “Trends and opportunities for a green horizon”, organized on the grounds of BNZ’s third anniversary. The event, which gathered around 200 attendees, featured the participation of renowned experts from the energy sector who shared their vision on the future of renewable energies and the energy transition, addressing both the opportunities and challenges it poses.
Luis Selva, Managing Director at BNZ, reflected on the significant transformation the energy sector is undergoing: “The rise of renewable energies is significantly changing the way we produce and consume energy around the world. He stressed that innovation in green technologies will allow us to complete the 24-hour energy production cycle, thereby improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. However, he warned that hybridization of technologies will be key in the years ahead, stressing the urgency of further innovation. “At BNZ, we seek to integrate these solutions in a sustainable way, adapting our infrastructures and policies to ensure a successful energy transition,” he added.
Jordi Francesch, Managing Director Asset Management at Nuveen Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of reconsidering the social contract of energy, especially in the context of the expansion of renewables. “There is a mismatch between global targets for 2030 and local realities, particularly in rural and offshore areas,” he said. Francesch highlighted the need to address social concerns and avoid distortions in market prices, while underlining the opportunity for the reindustrialization of Europe, due to cheap electricity under the “Made in Europe” approach. In addition, he advocated the crucial role of energy storage to manage price fluctuations, and called for a reduction in permits and bureaucratic burdens.
For her part, Odile Rodríguez, biologist and General Director of the Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente Foundation, drew into the conversation the impact of the climate crisis and greenhouse gas emissions on the Earth’s capacity to provide resilience. “Energy production generates a conflict between our needs and the preservation of ecosystems,” she warned, highlighting the importance of a more participatory and inclusive process in the planning of energy projects. Rodríguez advocated greater co-responsibility in decision-making and stressed that the transition should not be made “quickly and badly”, as setbacks generate unnecessary conflicts that complicate progress towards more sustainable energy. A conclusion with which Selva also agreed: “The energy transition must be paced. It is not just a need, but a revolution in which Europe has the opportunity to regain its global leadership by embracing competitive renewable energy prices while effectively engaging with local communities”.
Alex Alonso, Senior Associate at Aurora Energy Research, addressed the growing interest in renewable energy, with special emphasis on hybridizations and energy storage. “The challenge lies in ensuring that the increase in renewable capacity is followed by sustained demand,” Alonso explained, while warning about the challenges posed by this growth. According to the expert, the way towards an efficient and balanced energy transition is full of challenges, but it is essential to face them in order to ensure the success of the process.
The round table closed with a common thought: the energy transition depends not only on technology, but also on an inclusive planning, responsive to local needs and appropriate regulations, where all relevant actors in this transition must actively participate. With innovation as the driving force and collaboration as the basis, the green and sustainable horizon is an achievable goal, but only if it is pursued firmly and consistently.
