The head of IDAE defends the Government’s roadmap for the deployment of green energies —»it is technically and economically viable»- and maintains that both wind and photovoltaic power «besides being renewable are recyclable»
Despite his young age, Joan Groizard (34, Palma) is marking four years as the head of the Institute for Energy Saving and Diversification (IDAE). He joined just before the pandemic turned the world upside down and ultimately spurred a transition towards renewable energy. An Energy and Environment Engineer from the University of Cambridge, Groizard spoke with El Pais during the last edition of Genera, a major green energy convention in Spain. Despite a slight recovery at the end of last year, electric demand is falling again. Groizard attributes this to a mix of factors including economic activity and electrification, which increase demand, and energy efficiency and self- consumption, which depress it. The industrial consumption has not taken off yet. However, Groizard sees a positive structural trend: there’s a growing appetite to connect to the Spanish electric grid due to more affordable electricity. He believes that both electrification and storage are the key focuses of this legislative term. Groizard also addressed the slow adoption of electric cars in Spain, attributing it to a number of factors. He cited Norway’s high taxation on fossil fuel cars as a potential model for Spain to consider. He also defended the viability of electric mobility in Spain, noting that it is now economically feasible with savings on gasoline and available subsidies. In the interview, Groizard also touched on the potential of renewable gas and the need for more transparency in the energy sector. He also discussed the future of hydrogen and battery storage, and defended the National Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate (PNIEC) against criticisms of it being unrealistic. Finally, Groizard dismissed concerns about the recycling of solar panels and wind turbines, stressing that all renewable energy sources are recyclable.
