The energy sector has highlighted the role that green molecules—renewable hydrogen, 2G biofuels, and biogas—must play in advancing the decarbonization of activities where electrification is more complex, as well as their decisive contribution to the energy transition within the framework of the Green Deal and the Fit for 55 and REPowerEU regulatory packages, further emphasizing the window of opportunity this opens for Spain.
During a conference held this Tuesday by the Spanish Energy Club (Enerclub), where the report "Why Europe Needs Green Molecules?" prepared by Moeve together with PwC was presented, the Executive Vice President of Commercial & Clean Energies at Moeve, Carlos Barrasa, pointed to green molecules as "the great opportunity to reindustrialize Spain" and to turn the country "into the energy engine of Europe."
"As a country, we have all the conditions to become an industrial hub for green molecules that strengthens our competitiveness and creates quality employment," the executive argued, alluding to Spain's competitive advantages.
At the meeting, which was attended by representatives from Iberdrola, Repsol, Endesa, Naturgy, BP, EDP, and Enagás, the speakers agreed on the opportunity that arises for Spain to position itself in the production of these energy solutions and, thereby, lead a new cycle of reindustrialization.
Likewise, the complementarity between green molecules and renewable energies was highlighted to strengthen the energy autonomy and industrial competitiveness of the European Union. The study indicates that these molecules could reduce the bloc's external energy dependence by up to 50% by 2040.
In the debate, spokespersons for the main energy companies stressed the convenience of a system where different clean technologies coexist, in which "green molecules are complementary to electrons, where electrification is not viable," indicated the Director of Generation Regulation and Wholesale Markets at Endesa, Eduardo Moreda.
For his part, the Executive Director of Regulation and Markets for Spain at EDP, José Manuel Pérez Rodrigues, emphasized the importance of addressing "the need to connect decarbonization with greater energy independence."
The report details that green molecules could replace up to 50% of the current demand for fossil fuels in Europe by 2050, account for one-third of the European energy mix, and cut CO² emissions by 22%, especially in sectors where electrification poses greater difficulties, such as heavy industry and heavy road, air, and maritime transport.
According to the analysis, the Spanish energy sector will lead Europe in the large-scale deployment of these molecules, allowing Spain to capture the greatest economic return —an additional 15.6 billion euros by 2040— and employment, with 181,000 jobs by 2040, within the European Union, thanks to its optimal production conditions and "a first-class infrastructure network," as pointed out by the Director of Strategy at Enagás, María Teresa Nonay.
Spain, European benchmark in hydrogen and biofuel projects
In this regard, Vega Tapia, head of institutional affairs for Spain and Portugal at bp, considered that Spain has "the best conditions to produce green molecules and therefore has the largest portfolio of hydrogen projects in Europe."
In turn, the Director of Combined Cycle Power Plants and Green Hydrogen at Iberdrola, María del Carmen Vozmediano, emphasized that green hydrogen "is a growth driver for renewable energies."
Finally, the Sustainability Manager at Repsol, Carolina Ibáñez, highlighted the company's strategy in biofuels, recalling that by 2028 it expects to reach a production capacity of 1.5 million tons per year.