Today in Madrid, the Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Consumer Protection of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Eva Piera, and the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation Fenosa Gas, Pedro-A. Fábregas, opened a seminar on "Natural gas progresses: solutions in microcogeneration and industrial estates," in which the importance of implementing new energy solutions in construction and the industrial sector was discussed.
The current energy situation, with rising consumption and electricity generation in major centres far from the final consumer and based on fossil fuels, calls for the existence of a new energy model where energy efficiency and sustainability is increased. It is in this scenario where natural gas can play a crucial role as it is an efficient and clean energy source.
Microcogeneration Solutions
The Director General of the Technology Centre of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (Energylab), Rocío Fernández, declared that the microcogeneration is an option with great potential for application in the residential and tertiary sector, as yet untapped in our country. Fernandez emphasised that this technology can contribute especially to the configuration of a distributed generation model and to the European goal of reducing energy demand in construction.
Meanwhile, the head of the Fuel Gas Section of the General Directorate of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Community of Madrid, Fernando del Valle, said the Madrid Community had set up 13 microcogeneration projects in old age nursing homes. Del Valle focused his speech on two facilities located in the Madrid district of Vallecas and in the town of Arganda del Rey, highlighting the environmental benefits and reduction in consumption achieved through this technology.
The Head of Development of the Portfolio of Energy Services of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Alejandra González, was in charge of explaining the key role played by Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in the implementation of microcogeneration alternatives. These companies choose the most appropriate technologies for the facility of each customer, manage it and maintain it. The user only pays for the energy it consumes and the company is paid based on the energy savings it achieves.
Advantages of Natural Gas in Industrial Estates
The representative of New Building and Mass Consumption of Gas Natural Distribution, Vincent Estival, highlighted the role of natural gas as a decisive factor in improving the competitiveness of industry due to the maximum energy yield it offers, its low and stable price, lower CO2 emissions and other pollutants, and the existence of highly efficient technologies based on this energy source.
Also, Estival spoke about the "Industrial Estates Gasification Plan", created by the Community of Madrid, in which Natural Gas Distribution collaborates by carrying out preliminary studies carried out to assess the situation and the needs for gas in industrial estates in the region, and making available a series of incentives to encourage the conversion of industrial facilities to natural gas. He also presented the improvements achieved in this process of modernisation and replacement of diesel by natural gas.
The Technical Director of the installing company Termoservicio, Julio Martínez, spoke of the gasification process of industrial estates in the Community of Madrid from the inside, showing the advantages for the user companies, while the Solutions Director of Baxi Roca, Jaume Alcover, focused his speech on the applications for gas in the industrial and tertiary sectors, highlighting its maximum energy efficiency, economic benefit and lower CO2 emissions.
The Policy of the Autonomous Community of Madrid
The Director General of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Carlos López Jimeno, was responsible for presenting the efficiency policies implemented by the Community of Madrid, which range from microcogeneration to the gasification of polygons. With the "Industrial Estates Gasification Plan," presented last February, the Regional Government wants to boost the competitiveness of the 207 Madrid industrial estates through promoting the use of natural gas in the sector and improving energy efficiency.
The conference, which was closed by Carlos López Jimeno and the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Pedro-A. Fábregas, was attended by over 170 professionals from energy companies, manufacturers, installers, and various experts related to the sectors of energy and the environment.
Agreement with the High Council of the College of Architects of Spain
Continuing its work of promoting energy efficiency, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation has signed a collaboration agreement with the High Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain to carry out actions related to efficiency in buildings, especially in the field of rehabilitation.
The President of the High Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain, Jordi Ludevid, and Pedro-A. Fábregas signed an agreement whereby both organizations agree to cooperate in organising seminars and free public events in Spain on energy efficiency in buildings, paying special attention to aspects related to the rehabilitation of buildings. In addition, they will carry out studies and produce publications on this topic.
A New Initiative of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation
By holding this seminar, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation continues to develop its activities and the dissemination of significant elements of energy and the environment, to promote environmental protection as well as providing information, training and raising the awareness of society in respect for and conservation of the environment.