A decarbonised industry is a fundamental pillar to achieve the country’s goal of emissions neutrality by 2050. Considering that industry in Spain represents 25% of direct emissions, all available, mature and economically viable technologies with zero emissions must be taken into account by the sector.
This is the conclusion of the study “A Net-Zero gas system: a key element in a decarbonised energy model by 2050”, prepared by Deloitte together with the Naturgy Foundation. The study was presented at a conference attended by industrial associations and companies, which defended their high level of commitment to this objective. For which, on the other hand, they consider regulatory support to be necessary to back up their investments. The forecasts included in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) are that the energy transition will require investments of 300,000 million euros until 2030, of which 80% will concern the private sector.
Biomethane, a key gas
The role that renewable gases, and biomethane is one of the most prominent, can play can be essential as an alternative to quickly and efficiently reduce emissions from the sector.
This gas, which meets similar conditions to natural gas and can be distributed through the gas network without new or major investments, has the advantage of being obtained from the treatment of various types of waste, thus promoting the circular economy. In addition, it generates quality employment, revitalizes rural areas and is key to preventing their depopulation.
Naturgy wants to be a leader in promoting renewable gases in Spain, both in the production and distribution of biomethane, and in the development of green hydrogen in the medium term, since both constitute an energy vector that will foreseeably have a high impact on the future energy mix.
In this sense, the company not only manages a broad portfolio of projects that put it in an optimal position to take advantage of the opportunity offered by renewable gases on the path to decarbonisation, but it is also prepared to deploy, as it is already doing, significant investments and resources in this business area.
Among the projects already underway, Naturgy has three of its own production plants already in operation: in Edar de Bens (A Coruña), Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona) and Vila-Sana (Lleida). In a few months, those in Utiel (Valencia) and Utrera (Seville) will be added.
Furthermore, to facilitate the efficient decarbonisation of industrial activity, Naturgy and the paper company Grupo Lecta, one of the leaders in paper production, have recently signed a renewable gas supply agreement, which will have a guarantee of origin and certified sustainability tests. It will power the production centres of the Lecta paper company in Leitza (Navarra) and Zaragoza. This is the second major industrial agreement for the sale of this renewable gas by Naturgy, after the one signed with Inditex this year, which will allow the textile group to cover 75% of the natural gas consumption at its facilities in Arteixo and Laracha.