Sustainable Energy and Mobility Transition in Spain

It is known that today´s modern society´s way of living in developed countries is not sustainable with the rhythm of resources used up. Our planet is limited, and its resources are being used at a faster pace than they can regenerate. Plus, not all resources are renewable; some like fossil fuels are non-renewable in the span of human life. Developed economies and countries depend mostly on fossil fuels to feed their production and consumption cycle. What is more, the system is not sustainable since due to the pollution generated the earth and its ecosystems are degrading. Most important is the impact caused by air pollution; the called green-house gases liberated into the atmosphere are causing the earth to rise its overall temperature. The phenomenon known as “Global Warming” entails a series of gradual consequences which would make of the Earth a non-habitable planet. Thus, countries and global institutions are set on the task of preventing this phenomenon. Countries ‘governments are the most effective agents since they are the ones responsible for the policies that sustain each countries’ way of functioning. They have legal power over their citizens and the firms operating inside their territorial boundaries. One of the countries set out with an ambitious goal to fight off global warming is Spain. It´s former prime minister Pedro Sanchez voiced the goal of decarbonizing the country by 2050.

In the first place, the United Nations has an institution which reports the information form the leading environmental and climate scientists worldwide to produce a reliable source of information upon which countries can take measures and sign agreements to fight against climate change. This institution is the International Panel of Climate Change. An article from the newspaper The Guardian published last year informs us about the warnings the IPCC has voiced regarding the Paris Agreement 'there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people” (The Guardian, Climate Change). The experts conforming the IPCC agree upon this 12 year maximum time period to change our society’s functioning in order to adapt a more sustainable way of living and not overpass the 1.5C degrees rise in the earth’s global temperature. Nevertheless, the objective is ambitious and thus countries will have to set out and implement innovative and drastic measures. The possibility of fighting off climate change exists and it is recorded in the Paris Agreement “a pledge to keep temperatures between 1.5C and 2C” (The Guardian, Climate Change).

The planet has long been trying to warn us that, or we change, or the consequences can be catastrophic. Aware of this problem, world leaders met in 2015 to sign the Paris Agreement. It established measures to curb climate change. In Spain, for example, 5.8 metric tons per person are emitted each year (the world average is 4.9) (The World Bank Data, CO2 emissions). To reduce air pollution, a decarbonization measure plan is needed. One of the main barriers to the decarbonization process is that fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) remain the largest source of electrical energy production, well ahead of nuclear and renewable sources. What is the main problem of renewable energy? To explain it in comprehensible terms “the irregularity in the fluctuation of the wind and the sun, that cause that the electrical network is not stable” (Robert Fares, Scientific American Blog Network). To help meet the energy demand with the use of these sources, it is necessary to have intelligent energy management systems. On the other hand, in case of oversupply, storage or hydrogen generation technologies can be used to help stabilize the network. However, until this type of equipment becomes a reality, alternatives to coal plants such as gas plants are needed.

The closure of coal-fired power plants in Spain is a process developed since the beginning of the year 2010 whose purpose is the closure of all coal-fired thermoelectric facilities in Spain. On December 1, 2018, there were 15 such infrastructures in the country, whose operating deadline has been calculated for 2020.

The phenomenon materialized especially during 2018, when the PSOE government announced that it would close all thermal plants that did not make investments to reduce their CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.The reason given for the closure of the plants is that coal is the more polluting fossil fuel, and the prospect of replacing its use with that of renewable energies in order to curb the greenhouse effect and global warming of the planet. In Spain there are two of the 30 most polluting thermal power stations in Europe, the As Pontes thermal power plant and the Aboño thermal power plant, although only the one in García Rodríguez Bridges is in the top 20, being the twentieth most polluting.

According to some studies, the closure of coal facilities would entail the investment of € 3,000 million in existing combined cycle natural gas plants to supply the deficit in the production of electricity. In addition, due to the price difference Among the fuels, it is estimated that the price of the same could increase up to 10%. The enormous economic and social impact of the measure caused all kinds of adverse reactions in the affected groups.

People affected by coal power plants in Spain shutting down (for example workers or owners) might argue against it due to the reasoning of “but they do in other countries “, or “other activities also pollute”. This way of viewing our current situation is just wrongheaded: all emissions go to the same atmosphere of the same planet, the one we all live on, and kill us all. The point here is to show some leadership, to encourage other countries to join us in reducing emissions. 

A possible solution would be to change energy vectors for others with lower emissions, replacing the consumption of petroleum products, limiting them to uses in that there is no viable emission-free alternative (for example in air transport or certain industrial processes), by an electrification of the demand and use of energy vectors with lower emissions (for example, utilization of natural gas instead of petroleum derivatives in shipping and merchandise). This would mean: increasing vehicle penetration electric from 0% to almost 100% in 2050, making the modal change between 40% and 60% of heavy transport, which is currently performs by road almost entirely (95% in 2015), to electric rail and intensifying the change to energy vectors of lower emissions in the residential sectors, industrial and services through electrification and gasification of consumption, as appropriate (Deloitte, 'Claves De La Descarbonización Del Modelo Energético En España'). All in all, the use of electricity should be increased by 42% current energy consumption at 65-67% by 2050 (Deloitte, 'Claves De La Descarbonización Del Modelo Energético En España').

Additionally, the system would be based on a power generation park based exclusively on renewable energy. The future power generation mix should reach up to 90-100% renewable origin in 2050; from REE, Spain´s main operator of its electric system, it is known that “the 38% of the generation has been renewable in 2015” (Renewable energy in the Spanish electricity system, 9). Achieving this level of penetration will mean installing power generation renewables (wind and photovoltaic solar), as well as the sufficient backing capacity to guarantee the security of supply. Furthermore, it will be also be necessary to implement energy efficiency measures to reduce final energy intensity, for example, through new actions building, rehabilitation of existing buildings and new industrial processes All the previous actions, which we will call 'Decarbonization levers' are indispensable to meet the objectives on the 2050 horizon. It is said, it will not be enough to reach a generation mix 100% renewable electric if the use of fossil fuels in transport, thermal uses in building or industrial processes continues. Nor will it be enough to focus all efforts on efficiency energy, if we don't get a generator park emission free.

Finally, the fundamental challenge of a massive deployment of electric mobility is the reduction of transportation’s impact on climate. Hereby derived challenges specifically concern: the organization of mobility together with the uptake of recharge infrastructure, the interaction of the electric mobility system with the electricity net, hereby considering the energy storage function of batteries, the technological progress and the industrial production of vehicles and various components. Overall, these stakes involve the community more than the individual vehicle user. Public policies and projects in favor of electric mobility based on private or shared vehicle usage will be needed. Already, the Spanish Government “plans to create an online map of charging points for electric cars” (Antonio Sabán, Coche Electrico). The conditions for availability and attractiveness of an electric mobility system to potential users are discussed, notably so with respect to the deployment of the recharging infrastructure and its adequacy to existing land-use patterns. Current policy approaches supporting the uptake of electric mobility are promising. For the time being, however, the complexity of the electromobility system impedes a valid conclusion on the effectiveness of measures put in place. Besides public policy intervention mainly also economic, technical and industrial factors will define the success of e-mobility.

Ultimately, a large-scale measure against the fight to eradicate greenhouse gas emissions is as the transport challenge is already mentioned above. The objective is to transform current transport into electric transport. For this, the challenges are several. Mainly they focus around the logistics of the recharge infrastructure. The current gas stations would have to be replaced by electric charging stations suitable for all types of vehicles. Already they are beginning to incorporate plugs for electric cars in public parking establishments. On the other hand, battery energy storage is an important factor because it directly affects the sustainability of this proposal. Coupled with this is the need for vehicle production to respond to the new market; the electric transport market or “carbon-free”. Hybrid cars are already circulating but a 100% electric car is still rarer and the price is not available to the Spanish general public. For all these bets, an action of public policies and projects that involve the community more than the individual user of the vehicles is needed. The Spanish Government 'already plans to create an online map of charging points for electric cars' (Antonio Sabán, Electric Car) and there is a greater investment in public electric transportation. In a large number of Spanish cities, the municipalities are dedicating part of the budgets to improve the communication of cities with more metro or tramway lines, both powered by electric energy. In general, the current policies in favor of electric mobility are promising.

The Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition seeks to ban the sale of vehicles that depend on fossil fuels (including hybrids) by 2040. Families with low incomes depending on their fossil-fueled vehicle to move around the city might argue hardly against this measure. People will be pushed to plan on buying a new vehicle 100% electric. They might claim it is unfair for low-income families since it could leave them without a means of transport. However, due to the rising pollution levels in Spanish cities, as for example Madrid, the use of cars has already been restricted. Currently, since 2018 vehicles without an environmental label of the DGT (the circulation entity) may not circulate or park within Central Madrid, that is, in the center of Madrid. This group is made up of gasoline registered before January 2000 and diesel registered before January 2006. Electric cars will be the solutions to these restrictions since them being zero CO2 emissions they would not further pollute the city and the current policies will not be further necessary. Plus, the government plans on improving public electric transport so all parts are better connected. Furthermore, electric sharing vehicles is already an initiative active in many Spanish cities. This type of vehicle rental is done for intra-urban routes and short time. Cars are reserved and rented directly from our smartphone and allow us to move around the city in a vehicle (mostly electric) for private use but without having to own it.

To conclude, this paper has focused on the main steps to take towards the decarbonization of Spain. First, the installation of a grren energy park based 100% on renewable energies by progressively shutting down the current coal plants and using natural gas as a transition energy. In the second place, eliminating the heavy impact on carbon emissions by electrifying the transportation and mobility systems which in the long run will benefit even low-income families and the country overall. Moreover, Spain will set an example for other countries to follow and will gain thereof a position of leadership and global recognition.

Works Cited

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