The energy transition is experiencing a decisive moment. In a context marked by geopolitical volatility, climate urgency and the challenge of maintaining industrial competitiveness, the debate no longer revolves solely around the objectives, but how to achieve them in a balanced and realistic way.
In this scenario, the 52nd Annual Meeting of Sedigasrecently held in Madrid, has established itself as one of the main reflection forums for the energy sector in Spain and Europe, bringing together companies, regulators and institutions to analyze the role of gas infrastructure in the energy future.
Under the motto “Gas infrastructures, energy transition and security of supply for Spain and Europe”, the event served to put on the table a shared idea, the Spanish gas system has not only demonstrated solidity in the face of recent crises, but is called to play a decisive role in the integration of renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen.
The most relevant announcement came from the Secretary of State for Energy, Joan Groizardwho advanced the opening of the public hearing process for the Royal Decree project to promote biomethane, presented as one of the Government’s regulatory efforts to accelerate the energy transition.
In that context, the president of Sedigas, Joan Batallawarned that the complexity of the international scenario has returned security of supply to the center of the economic and political debate. In his opinion, conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, the volatility of energy markets or recent episodes such as the April 2025 blackout reinforce the need to have robust, sustainable and competitive systems.
Shared vision
That vision was shared by different representatives of the sector who defended a transition supported by pragmatism, regulatory stability and investment in infrastructure. Specifically the president of Naturgy, Francisco Reynéshighlighted in his speech that natural gas and renewable gases are part of the solution to move towards an orderly, safe and efficient energy transition, “Let’s stop associating gas only with emissions and let’s start associating it also with “a solution for decarbonization”. Reynés highlighted the relevant contribution of gas infrastructure to strategic autonomy, security of supply and affordability. In that sense, he recalled the need to provide the system with stable and attractive regulatory frameworks that allow boosting investments to deploy new capabilities.
This approach connects with a vision that is increasingly shared in Europe: decarbonization does not only involve electrification, but rather a mix of technological solutions capable of adapting to the different needs of the energy system. Reynés placed special emphasis on the fact that the gas sector can contribute in a balanced way to solving the so-called energy trilemma: guaranteeing security of supply, sustainability and affordable prices. An especially relevant approach in the current context, where energy security has returned to the center of the European debate.
Energy autonomy
For the executive president of Naturgy, in an uncertain international environment, the use of nearby resources is presented as a strategic advantage. “Everything we can advance to be able to use nearby resources gives us “more autonomy and more security”Reynés highlighted. In this way, renewable gases—produced from organic waste or local sources—are positioned as an opportunity to reduce foreign dependence and strengthen the national energy system.
For their part, the representatives of the European Commission and the CNMC, who participated in the day, agreed that Spain has one of the most diversified and flexible gas systems in Europe, a position that can be decisive in turning the potential of biomethane into an industrial reality and reinforcing both national and European strategic autonomy.
The meeting concluded with a broad consensus on the diagnosis and also on the direction to follow, the future of gas in Europe involves transforming the current system into a lever for renewable gases. To achieve this, the sector demands regulatory certainty, administrative agility and a coordinated strategy that allows the resilience of existing infrastructure to be converted into a competitive advantage for decarbonization.