"Renewables, the only energy source that is Spain, are a good deal for the country," according to a study
Thursday, 03 December 2009 23:00
José María González Vélez, President of APPA, has this morning at their usual numbers case for renewables. And the bills go out, go that if they leave. Right now, most heavily criticized when arriving from the major energy companies â € "the most insistent is that renewables are expensive and subvencionadasâ €" the clean energy sector wields evidence that the Spanish economy and society are much more than the premiums they pay for wind, photovoltaics and other technologies.
The only energy source we have in Spain are renewable. And they are a good deal for the scenery, said Gonzalez Velez, going over the data while the impact of renewables on the economy, employment, environment, health of the people and the price of electricity.
The total contribution to GDP over 2008, the year of reference of the study was 7.315 million euros (4,805 million direct contribution), representing 0.67% of the Spanish GDP. That contribution has not only grown in recent years, in 2008, for example, the increase was 37% over the previous year. The technologies with the greatest contribution to GDP in 2008 was the wind (51.99%), photovoltaic (21.67%), biomass (15.07%) and small hydro (7.21%).
According to the analysis prepared by Deloitte, the main drivers of growth in sectoral contribution to GDP in 2010 will be the increase of wind power to reach the target of 20,155 MW and the increased use of biofuels to achieve the target of 5.83% consumption. In the long term, the growth engine will be the impact that the European Directive 2009/28/CE of renewables, which in Spain sets a target of 20% in 2020.
An export sector
In 2008 exports amounted associated with renewable up to 3.863 million euros. Discounted imports, net exports meant more than 1.227 million. The study identified more than a hundred Spanish companies with strong presence in international markets. Only the six most important â € "Abengoa, Acciona, ECYR, Gamesa, Grupo Hera, Iberdrola Renovables and Isofoton €" have approximately 27,000 million in assets outside Spain. More than 15,000 are from the renewable subsidiary of Iberdrola.
Renewables are net tax payers for years. In 2008 the fiscal balance reached EUR 404 million. And research effort far exceeds other activities as the sector devoted to R & D 6.6% of GDP by sector last year, a figure five times higher than the national average which is 1.3% .
Regarding employment, has accounted for 120,722 people who are dedicated to renewables, of which 75,466 are direct jobs. Logically, the figures for 2008 are more favorable than this year, in which there have been many layoffs, especially in photovoltaics. The report also argues that the renewables sector is very labor intensive, and generates 2.7 times more jobs than the average energy per unit of GDP.
Least 23.6 million tonnes of CO2
Only in 2008 avoided the emission renewables from 23.6 million tonnes of CO2, 5.7% of total emissions of Spain. In economic terms the impact of savings in allowances was € 499 million. But the issue also prevented 18,600 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 34,300 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), hazardous environmental pollutants and human health.
Over the last year replaced the 40,700 GWh of renewable electricity production with fossil fuels, representing 13.4% of all electricity generated in our country. In terms of energy dependence prevented the sector imported more than 10 million tons of oil equivalent (toe), which represented a saving of fossil imports worth 2.725 million euros.
Another aspect that has been highlighted in the presentation is how to decrease the price of renewable electricity in Market Journal of OMEL. They do so by entering a zero price â € "the action is free in almost all tecnologíasâ €" replacing conventional generating units high marginal cost (because you have to burn gas, coal, fuel) that would set higher prices. In 2008 the retail price was 12.7% and represented a saving of 4,919 million euros (price per MWh purchased was EUR 19.94). Jose Maria Gonzalez Velez recalled that â € œese price savings has just been recognized in a resolution of MYTIC Nov. 19, when it is said that the new MW awarded to the wind and solar thermal power will produce a saving of 2,500 million euros to 2013. â € œEn 2008 the renewable premiums were EUR 2.605 million (this year is around 3,300 million) but still, the difference between the profits generated by renewables and the premiums received by producers shows a positive balance of 619 million EUR € benefits.
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