IBERDROLA Chairman Ignacio Galán, while speaking at the World Climate Summit in Doha, called for sustainable electricity development to meet the needs of the 1.3 billion people around the world, equivalent to 20% of the entire population, who don’t have access to electricity.
Taking part in a panel discussion at the World Climate Summit, on the sidelines of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, Galán said the only way to achieve this is to promote efficient technologies from an economic and environmental standpoint.
He pointed out that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and last year hit a new record of 31.6 gigatonnes, 3% more than in 2010, as a result of which the world is falling further behind in its goal of combating climate change.
Galán, who shared the panel with Qatar Energy Minister Mohammed bin Salel Al-Sada, and Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse, among others, said investment should be focused on developing new installations, as well as wind farms, both onshore and offshore, and gas-fired plants which emit 66% less than coal-fired power stations.
As regards other renewable energy sources, he said research and development efforts should continue in new technologies such as photovoltaic, wave and tidal with a view to bringing down their cost. But he opposed the strategy followed in some European countries of incentivizing immature and costly technologies.
The IBERDROLA Chairman also highlighted that to achieve sustainability in the electricity sector it is essential to introduce smart grids that help increase energy efficiency and facilitate the exploitation of new technologies such as electric vehicles.
Brazil, on the right track
Galán referred to the great importance of having clear energy policies and stable regulatory frameworks for the $17 trillion of necessary investments needed by the world energy sector over the next 25 years.
He praised the way countries such as the UK and Brazil have approached this challenge, noting that the South American country has prioritized hydro and wind, using combined cycles as backup, and has implemented an efficient tender process whereby successful bidders are guaranteed long-term concessions at guaranteed energy prices.
Galán also paid tribute to the efforts of the Brazilian Government in promoting universal access to energy supplies. In this way, and together with the privately owned companies, it has promoted campaigns such as Luz para Todos (electricity for everyone), which in IBERDROLA’s case has helped it to increase supplies to 10 million people over the past decade.
He also referred during the conference to IBERDROLA’s commitment to combating climate change with its power plans currently emitting 50% less than the average for European utilities.
[mappress]
Press release, December 3, 2012; Image: IBERDROLA