The Chairman of the Red Eléctrica Group, Jordi Sevilla, has confirmed today that the Group will make the necessary investment to guarantee the success of all renewable energy projects that will be carried out in Extremadura through 2030. Specifically, the Group will invest 110 million euros until 2022 so that the 10,000 MW of renewable energy planned for the region by 2030 can be evacuated into the electricity grid. Mr Sevilla indicated that "Extremadura can count on Red Eléctrica in its energy transition project. We will guarantee the integration of renewable energy in the region in a timely manner.”

Jordi Sevilla made these statements during an event in Mérida in which he participated in together with the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara. During the event, Extremadura’s commitment in the fight against climate change and the need to develop a sustainable energy model in the region was highlighted. The event, organised by the Red Eléctrica Group, brought together the main businessmen and executives of Extremadura.

According to Mr. Sevilla, "we are facing a transformation that will change the way electricity is generated, transported, distributed and consumed. In time, we will increasingly generate less electricity from sources that emit CO2". To accomplish this, Mr. Sevilla indicated that the commitment to clean energy "will require grids to be much smarter so that they can transport and handle more megawatts". To this end, as explained by Mr. Sevilla, the Red Eléctrica Group is already working on this transformation and adopting new technologies such as artificial intelligence that will help manage the balance between supply and demand in the future scenario.

For his part, the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara, stressed that clean energy is an opportunity for the region, as the construction of renewable energy power stations are a clear focus for employability. The President of the Regional Government also stated that Extremadura "is the autonomous community in Spain that has more favourable legislation for the establishment of companies in the field of energy, because we firmly believe in this scenario as a key alternative and because it is good for Spain".

Extremadura’s role in the energy transition was highlighted during the event; an event in which the Regional Minister for Economy and Infrastructure, Olga García, also participated. Additionally, the transformation of the electricity sector from the point of view of digitalisation and talent was also addressed.

Extremadura, key scenario of the energy transition

The Regional Minister for Economy and Infrastructure, Olga García, pointed out that Extremadura is committed to the European Union’s road map regarding the fight against climate change. In addition, she stated that the region of Extremadura is capable of contributing to the fulfilment of the targets set by the Union and which, in her opinion represents "a clear opportunity for progress in our region".

In this regard, she stressed that Extremadura is the sixth autonomous region nationwide that contributes the most in terms of electricity generation and the seventh in renewable energy. Similarly, Ms. García has explained in detail Extremadura’s Smart Specialisation Strategy; a strategy broken down into five areas which include clean energy. Additionally she also outlined the 2030 Extremadura Green and Circular Economy Strategy.

Lastly, the Regional Minister offered some details regarding the impetus given to the development of renewable energy: "There are more than 120 projects regarding photovoltaic energy that will be connected to the grid and that will provide a power capacity of 7,500 megawatts (MW); some of them are currently in the permitting stage and others are already under construction", concluded Ms. García.