On 28 January Extremadura Energy Agency (AGENEX) organised a webinar to analyse the potential of renewable energies in Extremadura region's (ES) agribusiness.
The day was opened by Cosme Segador, director of the AGENEX, who emphasized the potential of renewable energies and energy efficiency in agribusiness sector in Extremadura. He also gave an introduction to AgroRES and RESINDUSTRY projects in which AGENEX participates.
After this, the Director General of Industry, Energy and Mines of Extremadura, Samuel Ruiz, pointed out that the agro- and energy sectors should become the future economic engines of the region. The Extremadura Energy and Climate Plan guides the future development of the energy sector in Extremadura. This strategy is an important tool for three key missions:
- energy transition in Extremadura
- fight against the climate change
- economic revival and employment in the region's rural areas.
Next, Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso from the University of Extremadura presented the conclusions of a study on the renewable energy potential in the agricultural sector of Extremadura, carried out within the framework of the AgroRES project.
After this, AGENEX Technical Coordinator Daniel Encinas reviewed the public aid available for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and activities in the agro-industrial sector in Extremadura.
This was followed by presentations of good practices in the agricultural and industrial sectors. The AgroRES project manager Javier González gave examples of renewable energy investments in farms in Extremadura and spoke about energy communities that have been established in Devon County, UK. The RESINDUSTRY project manager, Beatriz Rico, presented two good examples of renewable energy investments in the industrial sector.
The last presentation was given by Albert Puig from the city of Rubí, representing the Rubí Brilla initiative promoting energy saving and energy efficiency in all the sectors of the city. He spoke about a self-consumption energy project launched by the city council in the industrial sector.
The final part of the webinar was dedicated to a round-table discussion. In this fruitful debate, participants analysed strengths and weaknesses connected to renewable energy production in the agricultural sector.
Webinar recording (in Spanish) is available below:
