Marta Pericacho

Climate change is becoming increasingly evident and is caused by the large quantities of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels for electricity generation, heating and transport. One of the most serious consequences is the destruction of the ozone layer, which leads to an increase in the earth’s temperature and the production of extreme weather phenomena, but it is not the only one.

THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

To curb this situation, the EU has set a series of targets for 2030 to move towards a low or zero carbon economy and thus achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050.

In the fight against climate change, the use of renewable energies plays a fundamental role. These sources of energy generation are clean and inexhaustible resources that, unlike fossil fuels, do not produce greenhouse gases or polluting emissions.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, doubling the share of renewables in the global energy mix to 32% by 2030 would result in a 3.7% increase in welfare.

In 2015, world leaders adopted a series of global goals (SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals) with the aim of eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and improving citizens’ rights. Renewable energy is SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

When we talk about renewable energies we can highlight:

Wind energy: is that which harnesses the energy of the wind by means of wind turbines or windmills. The wind turbine is the main element of this renewable energy system, the most common being the one that converts the energy from the movement of the air into electrical energy that is finally transmitted to the electricity grid.

Solar energy: it is obtained directly from the sun and can be solar photovoltaic, solar thermal or solar thermoelectric, depending on the exploitation mechanism used, heat or electricity can be obtained.

Hydropower: This type of renewable energy uses the movement of water to generate electricity.

Geothermal energy: this energy harnesses heat from within the earth’s crust. According to the FAO, this type of energy can be very beneficial in developing countries, as it can be used for drying food or pasteurising and sterilising milk.

Biomass: The generation of energy from organic waste is another renewable energy source, in this case linked to gas and electricity.

Tidal energy: tidal energy is energy that harnesses the power of the tides or waves to produce energy.

Will renewable energies be able to transport us to a new scenario?

Green hydrogen has become an essential part of the energy transition to ensure a sustainable future. Falling hydrogen production costs through renewable energy have given hydrogen an unprecedented boost.

GREEN HYDROGEN HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN PILLARS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S RECOVERY FUNDS

Energy transition is one of the axes of this recovery, with 30% of the budget allocated to the fight against climate change. And it is here that green hydrogen has begun to gain ground, growing in interest and positioning itself in the public debate as one of the fundamental pillars for the decarbonization of the economy, one of the objectives that countries around the world have set themselves for 2050. To achieve this, green hydrogen is one of the keys.

Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant chemical element in nature, consisting of one proton and one electron. In the case of green hydrogen, it is an energy carrier that allows you to move energy from one place to another, in this case, through water, using renewable energies

To produce green hydrogen, no carbon dioxide is used or emitted, which is why its global demand as a fuel has tripled since 1975, as noted by the IEA (International Energy Agency), reaching 70 million tons per year in 2018. It is a clean energy source that only emits water vapor and leaves no residues in the air, unlike coal and oil.

In addition, it has multiple uses, ranging from power generation for industries such as metallurgy and chemistry, to energy, residential and transportation uses.

Industry: The industrial sector is the one that consumes the most fossil hydrogen, for this reason, the progressive implementation of green hydrogen is driving an industrial reconversion in both the public and private sectors.

Transportation: It is used as a fuel. Hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles are 30% more efficient compared to gasoline vehicles, and perform well in all weather conditions, even at low temperatures. Many cities are already implementing the use of this fuel in their public transport network.

Energy: Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity through fuel cells and to be injected into the natural gas grid, a practice that significantly reduces emissions from heating systems.

Residential: There are hydrogen micro-cogeneration systems that are capable of providing electricity and heat to homes. It is very convenient and practical as it can be transported and stored without additional investments and taking advantage of the existing gas infrastructure.

In Spain, the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law includes a strong commitment to this energy, as well as a project for a macro green hydrogen transport network from Spain to northern Europe (Green Spider Project).

Green hydrogen is here to stay and the Spanish government and the European Union are clearly committed to this energy.  Its promotion is vital to achieve, among other things, the climate commitments of the Paris Agreement and the zero emissions targets required by the climate emergency.

Find out more about renewable energies in our news.

Wind energy has become one of the most used alternatives in our country. Due to the energy crisis we are experiencing, everything related to energy concerns us today more than ever.

THE KEYS TO WIND ENERGY, A CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE

Although we are still far from the dominance of renewable energies in Spain, today they account for 21.2%, following a good direction in emission-free generation. Wind energy has become one of the main energies in our country, in fact, it is considered the main source of energy in Spain.  If forecasts do not fail, it is expected that 2022 could become the year in which renewables finally exceed 50% of electricity generation.

Wind energy is a renewable energy source, which does not pollute, and is inexhaustible since it is obtained through the force of the wind with the operation of thousands of wind turbines. This type of energy is capable of obtaining 23% of the light we consume in our country, the equivalent of what is used by around 17 million homes. During the year 2021, Spanish wind turbines produced more than 23.1% of the total energy of the electricity system. A figure that puts them ahead of nuclear and combined cycles (those that need to burn gas to produce electricity).

According to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (Pniec), published by the government in 2021, the installation of wind turbines will double by 2030. Until this period, photovoltaic energy will continue to grow, becoming the second most important source of energy generation, but still far behind wind power.

Wind power is a strategic bet in Spain for all the advantages it presents, as it is an inexhaustible and indigenous source of energy that supplied 23% of Spain with electricity in 2021.

In Spain there are more than 1,260 wind farms spread over a thousand municipalities, making it a benchmark country in the development of this type of energy, ranking fifth after China, the United States, Germany and India, with 27,466 MW of wind power spread over more than 1,000 municipalities. When deciding where to place a wind farm it is necessary to know the amount of wind that exists in that place, since the more hours a wind turbine is working, the more efficient it is. In addition, the wind energy sector in Spain is widely distributed, present in 16 of the 17 autonomous communities.

It is estimated that by 2030, one in three light bulbs will be lit by wind power. In addition, this sector not only helps to improve our planet, but also employs some 30,000 people. According to a study by the GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council), wind power could create more than 3.3 million new jobs in the next five years.

It should be noted that it is also an energy that has the support of the government, since in the past year 2021 subsidies were received for it: 20% for the installation in large companies and 50% in systems for SMEs; individuals obtained 50% and public administrations 70%.

The use of wind power has meant savings for the system valued at 26,281 million euros due to the reduction in the price of the electricity market pool. Therefore, this energy is expected to be able to reduce bill prices in the future, becoming the main source of electricity and a key sector for meeting the target of 40% of energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2030.

Find out more about renewable energies in our blog.

The contribution of the new renewable generation sources to the fight against climate change and sustainable development are well recognized by the population. However, one facet that sometimes does not receive the recognition it deserves is that of the social and economic benefits it generates in society.

THE SOCIAL SIDE OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES: A SOURCE OF DEVELOPMENT AND WEALTH

Today more than ever, saving energy is an economic and ecological necessity. According to the 2020 World Energy Statistical Yearbook, 31% of energy that year came from oil, 26% from coal and 23% from gas. What do these fuels have in common? All of them are limited and for this reason, today their price is the highest in history.

Hence, renewable energies are gaining strength and becoming the natural replacement for these fossil fuels, which are also, to a large extent, the cause of pollution levels being out of control. Without going any further, the energy industry, together with transport, are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union.

But there are numerous studies that suggest that the models of environmental sustainability of renewable energies are also sustainable at an economic and social level. To begin with, an energy system based on renewables could generate very positive results in several aspects.

The European Union has set itself the goal of reaching 32-40% renewables by 2030. In this sense, if the expansion of renewables accelerates, a reduction in prices in the wholesale market of up to 14% would be achieved in countries such as Germany or up to 26% in coal-dependent countries like Poland. In addition, this would lead to greater stability in supply. Thanks to this, a great economic growth would take place.

On the other hand, renewables are an opportunity for employment. The green energy sector will create 43 million jobs by 2030 according to the Renewable Energy Agency and the ILO. And by 2050 it is estimated that this sector will employ more than 122 million people. In fact, in 2020 it already employed 12 million people. Jobs, in addition, that require technical and qualified profiles; more than 60% require minimal training.

At the same time, renewables also offer social advantages with an important contribution to territorial cohesion, mainly due to the tax collection that would occur in small municipalities where most of the renewable plants are located.

In addition, an increase in renewable energies in the generation of electricity would produce a drop in the electricity bill of between 8 and 25% in 2030. This would especially benefit the most vulnerable groups.

Therefore, integrating renewable energies with energy efficiency and intelligent demand management not only entails an ecological benefit and for climate change, but would also lead to a much more sustainable electricity generation system in the long term, also on a social level. and economic.

Find out more about renewable energies in our blog.

As Steve Jobs once said: “innovation is what distinguishes a leader”. And in this sense, the renewables sector is no different.

Solar or wind energy are two of the generation sources called to make a difference on the path to a climate-neutral future. In recent years, both technologies have undergone unprecedented development and thanks to this, they have been able to consolidate themselves as benchmarks for a clean energy supply.

INNOVATION: KEY TO THE FUTURE OF SOLAR ENERGY

Innovation in the solar energy sector is a very important issue, not only for any organization in the world but also for society. There is no doubt about it. Innovation is a fundamental pillar for an organization to be more competitive, more efficient, generate greater impact…

And this trend has been growing in recent years. Searching for a new way of doing things has become, even more so after the pandemic, the only alternative for many companies. And especially since there are sustainability challenges that we need to address.

Innovation allows companies like Nara Solar to develop innovation strategies and cultures, with defined and balanced portfolios, capable of offering projects with a positive impact on the value chain.

According to official UN figures, it is expected that by 2050 the share of renewable energies will go from the current 25% to more than 70%. And this is mainly due to the great advances that the sector has experienced. Before it was not possible but now we have the technology and knowledge to reach that goal.

In renewable technologies, we innovate in lines such as the extension of the life of renewable generation assets, the improvement of technologies to increase efficiency (control systems or machine learning, for example), the optimization of technological processes (such as the use of drones or the treatment of images for the planning and maintenance of facilities), the hybridization of renewable sources or the integration of storage systems.

This is what has caused renewable energies to be increasingly efficient, generate more energy and be much cheaper. And, therefore, that clean generation sources have more and more weight in the energy mix.

Solar energy has been, for several years, cheaper without subsidies than any other technology. And the forecasts of the consultant Wood Mckenzie anticipate that their prices will continue to fall between 15 and 25% during the next 10 years thanks to innovations such as cheaper production processes and materials, bifacial modules or the increase in the size of the solar modules.

For this reason, we are confident that innovation, as Steve Jobs said, will make the difference between leading companies and the rest and we believe that our best value is to incorporate new solutions, develop capabilities and propose new businesses for the company.

The technology to transform solar irradiation into solar energy has been around since 1950. However, year after year, it has evolved until today, when it has given way to a powerful industry that employs more than 12.000.000 people in the world.

SOLAR ENERGY HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LATEST YEARS

Solar energy has grown exponentially in the latest years. More precisely, it does so at a pace of  20% annually, being the main generation source in progression just followed by wind energy. It even broke a new growth record last year, according to the International Energy Agency’s last report.

Along the way, solar energy has been a stage for very important discussions, both politically and from a street level. Nevertheless, what seemed impossible in 1950 is today a reality. The earlier mentioned report by IEA says so: at this pace renewables alone will surpass fossil fuels and nuclear altogether by 2026.

And this is something that should not surprise us because solar energy is the most abundant source of energy in the world. Apart from being inexhaustible and trustworthy. Even more, in just one day the sun produces enough energy to supply the earth with energy during a whole year and since the 80’s, the price of the modules has done nothing but falling; they have already gotten 99% cheaper. Impressive.

Now that we are starting to pose a sustainable green world, fueled only by renewable energy, we have realized that solar energy is here to stay. And for a good reason.

Actually, solar panels are a solution for the future that has already started to materialize. And there is no doubt that data support this affirmation. Solar energy has been the renewable energy that has grown the most over the past 15 years, according to IRENA.

Europe keeps being an absolute leader when it comes to solar energy, its power has multiplied by 75 in the last decade. And its experiencing a boom in the actual moment, as it proves the fact that 90% of installed available capacity has been installed in the last 5 years.

Relative to this data, Faith Birol, executive director of International Energy Agency, has indicated that, this year, renewable available capacity could reach 1.000 GW, with solar energy as the main source. According to Birol “we are facing the birth of a new era of solar energy, whose growth will be bigger than any other renewable energy at least until 2026.