More than 40 companies participated in the launch event of Q-Zero, the alliance for the decarbonisation of thermal demand in Spain, organised on 24 January at the headquarters of Iberdrola. The initiative, open to all agents, was created as a meeting and dialogue point to accelerate decarbonisation, above all of thermal energy demanders in both the industrial and building sectors, and to combat climate change.
This partnership will be facilitated and supported by the Centre for Innovation in Technology for Human Development of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, within the framework of the Iberdrola-UPM Chair for Sustainable Development Goals.
The current pace of decarbonisation in the industrial and buildings sector is below the pace needed to achieve the commitments made in the fight against climate change and to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The alliance, open to all actors, is conceived as a common place where entities come together, discuss the current situation, identify bottlenecks and develop proposals and activities to accelerate the electrification of heat in the different sectors, maintaining competitiveness and taking advantage of and contributing to realising the opportunities of the energy transition.
The electrification of heat is a sector with special particularities, as although there are numerous barriers common to all businesses, there are also significant differences. This reality poses challenges for the acceleration of the process of decarbonisation of thermal demand, and at the same time an economic opportunity to develop new markets and decarbonisation technologies in Spain.
The director of itdUPM, Carlos Mataix, stressed that “the necessary decarbonisation of the thermal processes of industry will only be achieved through collaboration” and that “we will go much further and faster if we are able to recognise ourselves as part of a country initiative, where public administration, the private sector and universities come together”.
The chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, for his part, argued that “there is a real urgency to change our energy system. We need it to protect our environment, but also to increase our energy autonomy and reduce fossil fuel imports. This is a real alliance to decarbonise and take advantage of new opportunities”.
The companies and entities that participated in the launch of the alliance were Abadía Retuerta, Ábbatte, AFEC, AndreuWorld, Antolin, AQ Compute, Bayer, bp, Carbon2Nature, Castillo de Canena, Contazara, Crimidesa, Disalfarm, EIT Climate KIC, Ence – Energía y Celulosa, Estrella Levante (DAMM Group), Fagor Ederlan, Ferrovial, Gonvarri Solar Steel, Google, Heineken, Holcim, Iberdrola, Kyoto, Lactalis, Latem Aluminium, Losán, Masam, Merlin Properties, Molecor, NetZero Basque Industrial Super Cluster, Pepsico, Plastic Energy, Porcelanosa, Rebi, Sabic, SpainDC, T500 Puratos and Tubos Reunidos Group.
Country opportunity
The alliance is in line with the European Union’s fight against climate change and its goal for all member countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
The demand for thermal energy accounts for approximately 40% of final energy demand in Spain. This demand is divided approximately equally between industry and heat needs in buildings, including the residential and tertiary sectors.
The weight of industry is decreasing in Europe and is particularly low in Spain. Its dependence on fossil fuels, the energy crisis and the lack of energy autonomy, among other variables, are increasing energy costs, affecting competitiveness.
Compared to other countries, Spain has the competitive advantage of having the best renewable resources in Europe. On the path towards a carbon-free energy transition and towards security of supply at stable prices, Spain has abundant, clean and competitive energy, which represents an enormous opportunity to attract industry to our country, generating employment and added value.
More than 40 companies participated in the launch event of Q-Zero, the alliance for the decarbonisation of thermal demand in Spain, organised on 24 January at the headquarters of Iberdrola. The initiative, open to all agents, was created as a meeting and dialogue point to accelerate decarbonisation, above all of thermal energy demanders in both the industrial and building sectors, and to combat climate change.
This partnership will be facilitated and supported by the Centre for Innovation in Technology for Human Development of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, within the framework of the Iberdrola-UPM Chair for Sustainable Development Goals.
The current pace of decarbonisation in the industrial and buildings sector is below the pace needed to achieve the commitments made in the fight against climate change and to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The alliance, open to all actors, is conceived as a common place where entities come together, discuss the current situation, identify bottlenecks and develop proposals and activities to accelerate the electrification of heat in the different sectors, maintaining competitiveness and taking advantage of and contributing to realising the opportunities of the energy transition.
The electrification of heat is a sector with special particularities, as although there are numerous barriers common to all businesses, there are also significant differences. This reality poses challenges for the acceleration of the process of decarbonisation of thermal demand, and at the same time an economic opportunity to develop new markets and decarbonisation technologies in Spain.
The director of itdUPM, Carlos Mataix, stressed that “the necessary decarbonisation of the thermal processes of industry will only be achieved through collaboration” and that “we will go much further and faster if we are able to recognise ourselves as part of a country initiative, where public administration, the private sector and universities come together”.
The chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, for his part, argued that “there is a real urgency to change our energy system. We need it to protect our environment, but also to increase our energy autonomy and reduce fossil fuel imports. This is a real alliance to decarbonise and take advantage of new opportunities”.
The companies and entities that participated in the launch of the alliance were Abadía Retuerta, Ábbatte, AFEC, AndreuWorld, Antolin, AQ Compute, Bayer, bp, Carbon2Nature, Castillo de Canena, Contazara, Crimidesa, Disalfarm, EIT Climate KIC, Ence – Energía y Celulosa, Estrella Levante (DAMM Group), Fagor Ederlan, Ferrovial, Gonvarri Solar Steel, Google, Heineken, Holcim, Iberdrola, Kyoto, Lactalis, Latem Aluminium, Losán, Masam, Merlin Properties, Molecor, NetZero Basque Industrial Super Cluster, Pepsico, Plastic Energy, Porcelanosa, Rebi, Sabic, SpainDC, T500 Puratos and Tubos Reunidos Group.
Country opportunity
The alliance is in line with the European Union’s fight against climate change and its goal for all member countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
The demand for thermal energy accounts for approximately 40% of final energy demand in Spain. This demand is divided approximately equally between industry and heat needs in buildings, including the residential and tertiary sectors.
The weight of industry is decreasing in Europe and is particularly low in Spain. Its dependence on fossil fuels, the energy crisis and the lack of energy autonomy, among other variables, are increasing energy costs, affecting competitiveness.
Compared to other countries, Spain has the competitive advantage of having the best renewable resources in Europe. On the path towards a carbon-free energy transition and towards security of supply at stable prices, Spain has abundant, clean and competitive energy, which represents an enormous opportunity to attract industry to our country, generating employment and added value.
