Wrong energy model

The Catalan Climate Change Law stipulates that the energy system's vulnerability must be reduced by guaranteeing the right to energy access as a common good. It also promotes distributed energy generation, favouring self-consumption from renewable energies, the participation of local actors and the implementation of closed networks, with the aim of utilising spaces already altered by human activity, thereby minimising unnecessary land occupation. However, it seems that the Maritime Spatial Planning (POEM) and the model finally adopted by the Generalitat are heading in exactly the opposite direction.

The EU wants to achieve a A decarbonised and sovereign energy model by 2050. This objective must be compatible with food sovereignty and the preservation of natural heritage.

This highlights the need to generate renewable energy. preferably from urban or degraded areas. We must preserve terrestrial and marine biodiversity as much as possible. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), biodiversity is the main ally in confronting global warming. Likewise, the maintenance of agricultural, livestock, forestry, and fishing activities, especially those that are more respectful of the environment or less intensive.

In this regard, the Generalitat of Catalonia approved the Law 16/2017 of 1 August on Climate Change, determines in matters of energy that:

«Article 19.1. The measures adopted in the field of energy must be geared towards the energy transition towards a 100% renewable, denuclearised and decarbonised model, neutral in greenhouse gas emissions, which Reduce the vulnerability of the energy system Catalan and guarantees the Right to access energy as a common good, and specifically aimed at:

a) Promote policies of’energy saving and efficiency, with the aim of reducing final energy consumption by at least 21% per year to reach at least 27% by 2030, excluding non-energy uses.

b) Promote renewable energies, which should be developed, wherever possible, making use of spaces already altered by human activity, and thus minimising unnecessary occupation of the territory.

c) Promote the necessary measures in the field of renewable energies so that 50% of Catalonia's electricity consumption comes from these renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050, prioritising the proximity of renewable electricity production to consumption centres.

d) The adoption of regulatory measures that Favour energy self-consumption from renewable sources and the participation of local actors. in the production and distribution of renewable energy.

e) The promotion of energy generation distributed and new options in the distribution and procurement of supplies, and the implementation of smart energy distribution networks and Closed networks.«

In accordance with this Law, the new model had to guarantee access to the’Energy as a common good, distributed, close to consumption and in altered spaces.. The Law requires the preservation of areas with high natural value and connecting function, such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Natural Parks, Natura 2000 Network, and non-developable land with special agricultural, forestry, fluvial, coastal, or ridge protection.

Therefore, the objective is twofold: to decarbonise and strengthen the resilience and security of the system. This would be a less centralised and vulnerable system, where generation and distribution are more social and closer to consumption. We need to encourage self-consumption, with the participation of local actors and consumer cooperatives. In this way, we can avoid geostrategic conflicts, losses in distribution, and the fragility of a system that depends on large facilities, far from consumers, connected by high-voltage power lines. At the same time, we must avoid a model based on exporting energy to other countries.

Five years on, the invasion of Ukraine has cast doubt on the objective of achieving a much more sustainable and distributed European energy model, due to the European Union's excessive dependence on Russian gas. The war has accelerated the EU's desire to achieve energy sovereignty, above the right to access energy as a common good, the conservation of natural heritage and food sovereignty, adopting measures that cause serious environmental and social setbacks in the EU, such as:

In this regard, the administration has incorporated this model into our legislation. One example is the amendment of Articles 22 and 23 of Royal Decree-Law 20/2022, on measures in response to the consequences of the War in Ukraine. These measures allow the implementation of large-scale renewable energy projects of more than 50 MW on non-urbanisable land without an Environmental Assessment. This reduces citizen participation and the public consultation period. It has also led to a deluge of mega-projects with serious environmental impacts, many within Natura 2000 sites.

Other examples are Royal Decree-Law 18/2022 which limit the distance between the generating installation and the self-consumer, fixed until now by the Ministry at 500 m. After much opposition, minister Teresa Ribera plans to expand to 2,000 starting from 2024.

Another example is the difficulty of accessing and connecting to the public grid to sell surplus self-consumption energy. At the same time, there is a lack of support for self-consumption when compared to that received by macro-projects. This brings to mind the failure of Royal Decree 900/2015, which paralysed self-consumption with the well-known «The tax on the sun«...which was repealed in 2018 by Royal Decree 15/2018.

This model continues to prioritise centralisation and large-scale projects on undeveloped land, to the detriment of closed networks, consumer cooperatives and self-consumption. Replacing the current centralised model with another equally centralised one using large-scale renewables could also pose a risk to national security.

According to Antonio Turiel, “the management of the intermittent ”The model with large renewable macro-power plants is not a minor issue.“ Even though many consider it resolved with massive storage systems, ”which we don't have, due to their cost and dependence on scarce materials," what is happening in other countries that already have offshore macro-wind farms is that the cables that transfer the energy cannot safely cope with the amount of energy generated by the turbines on some days.

An example is the National Grid, In the UK, which paid £215 million last year to shut down turbines on the windiest days, a cost that ultimately ends up on people's bills.

Other examples of the collapse of excessively centralised systems include the partial power supply failure in Japan in 2011, at the nuclear accident at Fukushima. Also, in 2022, with the rapid occupation of Ukraine's generation and distribution macro-infrastructure by the Russian army, such as the sabotage of the Very High Voltage lines and the occupation of the nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), with the aim of destabilising the country. Another example is the recent sabotage of gas pipelines connecting Europe and Russia.

Objectivedecarbonisation

Catalonia emits greenhouse gases (GHG) exceeding 5 tonnes per person per year. To comply with the’Paris Agreement, the per capita carbon footprint and emissions must be reduced by around 60% by 2030. The latest data reveal that industry and transport are responsible for 60% of emissions, and 11% is generated by industrial livestock farming, but at present the Generalitat has no plan to reduce this type of emissions.

According to the researcher John Buades alerts that the focus of public policy is on electricity supply, responsible for only 15% of greenhouse gases, which facilitates the’a deluge of vulture fund mega-projects and large fossil fuel companies that have opened a renewable energy division to obtain European Funds and continue charging consumers high costs. "In contrast, the public is being asked to sacrifice for the climate by cutting back on consumption, installing panels and creating energy communities. It is surprising because residential consumption accounts for less than 71% of the country's total energy consumption."«

Although we are currently far from meeting the targets set by the European Union, both in renewable energy consumption, at 9.91% of the 20% target, and in renewable production, at 19.81% of the 32% target, the majority of gas emissions come from the most polluting factories such as cement plants, land, air and sea transport, which is difficult to electrify in the medium to long term, and industrial livestock farming. To achieve this, we must work primarily on reducing energy intensity across all sectors and increasing the proportion of renewables in our energy mix for each of these sectors.

Energy intensity It is an indicator that measures how efficient we are in our processes. In the following figure from the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN), we can see the evolution of this intensity over the past few years.

There is a notable improvement in intensity in the sectors. Services and Domestic. This is being achieved by improving insulation in buildings to reduce energy consumption and by installing solar panels where possible.

According to the telecommunications engineer and energy consultant Jaume Darné, Small-scale solar energy installations are experiencing notable growth, which is attributed to self-generation. Indeed, 76.21% of the installations have a capacity of 5 kW or less. Only 5.21% have capacities above 25 kW, which are more associated with the industrial sector. However, during 2020, renewable energy production in Catalonia accounted for 19.81% of total production and, within renewables, photovoltaics contributed 1.11% of the total generated.

A recent study by ICAEN highlights that there is still significant potential for small-scale solar energy in Catalonia. By simply using roofs and terraces with photovoltaic panels, it is could produce up to 50% of the total electricity we consume, which is the target set by the EU for 2030. Furthermore, there are areas that have already been altered by human activity where renewables could be located. There is still a long way to go in the refurbishment, improvement of efficiency and insulation of buildings that have become obsolete.

Energy intensity in the sectors of the Industry and Transport it is also possible, but more important is to improve urban planning, public transport and food sovereignty, to reduce the need for logistics. As they say Turiel Promoting the recycling of raw materials and extending the useful life of products and reducing waste, or cutting the use of plastic or cement in construction, are measures that would encourage a decline in electricity demand and improve efficiency.

Renewables in altered environments

The possibilities are diverse: we can generate renewable energy on interstitial, anthropised, or wasteland terrains. Also on existing infrastructure such as road, rail or port systems,This can be achieved by covering or installing lateral energy harvesting elements, which would also reduce noise and protect wildlife. Also in public facilities such as airports, stations, car parks, multi-purpose venues, markets or auditoriums. Also in sports facilities such as football pitches, municipal swimming pools, athletics tracks, etc. On the other hand, they could be located in public squares and streets with elements that provide shade. Also on roofs and terraces of buildings for self-supply.

This has a clear economic saving benefit for users and businesses, using only the network to sell surplus.

Study AP7

The study on The potential for electricity generation using photovoltaic panels on the AP7 as it passes through Catalonia., by Sergi Saladié and Lluís Salvat, determines that with a contained utilisation ratio where only 241 TP3T of the surface area of the AP7 motorway (704 ha out of a total of 2,920 ha) is occupied, a significant annual electricity production (2,056 GWh). This would represent 4.41 TP3T of the average annual consumption for the whole of Catalonia. By applying criteria for greater intensification of photovoltaic panel installations—for example, by doubling the surface area of panels installed on pergolas or false tunnels—it is possible to generate the 7.31 TP3T of all of Catalonia's annual electricity consumption.

Another study by the Rovira i Virgili University on the potential for electricity self-sufficiency of all the municipalities of Tarragona, from photovoltaic energy installed in urban environments, it is demonstrated that It is possible to cover 134% of the current demand, and more than 100% of the demand in the different scenarios. of demand growth. Even in the scenario forecasting the largest increases in electricity consumption by 2030, at 421% according to PROENCAT, Tarragona would reach 90.81% of the projected consumption, with photovoltaic generation on building roofs, in urban and peri-urban areas.

Another study of the Dr Fernando Prieto is expected Cover 100% of electricity consumption in Spain and Catalonia using only degraded spaces.. Catalonia has 33,861 hectares of degraded land where photovoltaics can be installed (quarries, road network, irrigation canals, rooftops, etc.). This represents a capacity to generate 19,918 MW of electrical power, with a production of 29,878 GWh/year.

Alternatives

There are other advancements that can be implemented for individual generation, such as ventilated photovoltaic façades, batteries for homes and businesses, photovoltaic glass and mini-wind turbines on buildings, pavements that generate electricity when walked on or photovoltaic pavements, or energy generated from the braking of trains or metros.

Energy savings can also be achieved through affordable home automation solutions, aerothermal systems, and heat pumps. Another fundamental aspect is improving the thermal insulation of old buildings.

Catalonia lacks a model that sets out the path to follow to achieve a transition sustainable, democratic, efficient and distributed. This is done with the objective of preserving biodiversity and an environmentally friendly model.

Rural communities and small to medium-sized towns can be self-sufficient in energy generation, and in medium and large cities, aside from the photovoltaic generation that can be achieved, only the installation of wind turbines in degraded or industrial areas, of a capacity and size sufficient to meet the demand that cannot be self-generated by the inhabitants and industries, would be required.

The administration is processing a Territorial Plan PLATER with Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Generalitat should have imposed a moratorium on projects in non-developable land and marine regions. This moratorium should not affect renewable energy installations in altered, anthropised, or urban areas, which should be the priority location.

The possibilities are diverse: generating energy from existing infrastructure.

Wind farms At the Gulf of Roses and LAt Pals Beach

The sea off Empordà, where offshore wind farms are planned, is surrounded by 11 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). As well, it has 8 Natura 2000/ZEPIM areas, 3 Maritime Natural Parks terrestrial, 2 areas of fishing interest. Also, it has the The Lleó Golf Platform IMMA and Northwest Mediterranean Sea Slopes and Canyons IMMA of Marine Mammal Protected Areas. it is considered by marine biologists as one of the areas in the Mediterranean with the greatest biodiversity in the world, where special protective measures are needed if we want to preserve it.

Although there is currently no complete bionomic mapping of the submerged Catalan or Spanish coastline. We also do not know the evolution or retreat of ecosystems, a basic tool to prevent their disappearance. Only studies with partial or isolated underwater maps exist.

According to the scientific researcher Dr. Josep Maria Gili, which has been studying the marine area of Empordà since the 1980s, Cap de Creus, the Gulf of Roses, the Montgrí coastline, the Medes Islands, the Bay of Pals and the Begur canyons, is one of the most spectacular and vibrant areas in the entire Mediterranean.

The seabed of this submarine platform, which lies between 50 and 250 metres in depth, is extremely rich and spatially heterogeneous. More than 70% of the Natura 2000 habitats from across the Mediterranean are represented. It boasts great diversity: more than 3,200 species of invertebrates. This represents half of all known marine diversity Mediterranean, 1/3 of all known vertebrates and plants.

These habitats are extremely Ben Conservats. There are large areas free of drag, with one of the communities of The most important deep-water white coral known in the Mediterranean. They are key organisms for the conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity, south of Cap de Creus.

At a depth of 60 to 120 m in the eastern zone of the Gulf of Roses, there are important communities of sea fans, that have disappeared from the rest of the Catalan coast. We also find great diversity sponges of open sea rock. From 150 m onwards, there are filter feeders such as Stars and the krill, cetacean food. Therefore, they are fundamental habitats for the shelter and food of other species, through which they regularly enter to feed via the platform.

Coral bushes play an essential role for many commercially important species such as the pike, which lays the eggs. For the life cycle of species such as squid, are the place for food and shelter, through which they transit and migrate to reproduce and feed. For all these reasons, the State, with jurisprudence in the open waters, Until now, offshore wind power had been prohibited in this area..

The Gulf of Roses is where the highest concentration of anchovy and sardine larvae and eggs are found on the entire Catalan coast. Thanks to the very important vertical mixing currents, this creates a very active and well-adapted food web that allows for the growth of phytoplankton, essential for photosynthesis and carbon storage.

This is very active, and it drastically reduces the effects of climate change, and it prevents sediments from being deposited, thanks to the acceleration of currents, and it improves the clarity of the water, due to the lack of obstacles which means there are no sediments.

As can be seen in the previous map, the Gulf of Roses is where the largest reproduction of bluefish on the entire coast is concentrated. Any alteration in this «bottleneck» that modifies currents, production, sedimentation, vertical mixing of particles, wind distribution, microorganisms, and food, will damage the diversity, biomass, and production needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. This impact will not only affect the gulf, but It will affect the rest of the diversity of the Catalan coast..

According to Dr. Gili, ecosystems with high biodiversity have a function, not only in providing resources and enabling sustainable fishing, but are also essential in mitigating climate change.

Over time, the scientific world and entities in the region have called for improved management of these Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the Costa Brava and their expansion. This has recently happened in the participatory process of the Cap de Creus Natural Park's Usage Plan. The objective is to improve the protection of certain biotopes, especially habitats of community and priority interest. Some of these habitats are very important for mitigating global warming due to their high carbon dioxide absorption capacity.

Furthermore, as we have seen, they are a refuge and breeding ground for species, such as The phanerogamous meadows of Pals Beach or the platform and the headlands of the Submarine Canyons of the Gulf of Roses, Cap de Creus, Begur and Palamós. In line with the EU's biodiversity strategy, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be expanded. The EU and the United Nations call on countries to have 30 per cent of both terrestrial and marine areas under effective protection by 2030. Floating offshore wind farms should not be permitted within these MPAs.

In 1965, Pals Beach was a candidate for the installation of a nuclear power plant, an idea that fortunately did not go ahead. Almost sixty years later, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has approved a new Maritime Space Planning Scheme (POEM). This plan protects the Girona coast at Cap de Creus and the bay of Pals beach. This is due to It is defined as one of the only marine areas on the entire peninsula where offshore wind farms can be installed.

Given the scarcity of the continental shelf, The Iberian Peninsula is not the most suitable for the installation of wind turbines. marines. However, the POEM indicates that its main objective is for Spain to become a European benchmark in offshore wind power generation.

Without any justification or change in environmental conditions, the POEM designates, as the only area in all of Catalonia for offshore wind, an area of 250 km². As we have seen, it is surrounded by areas with the highest possible degree of protection in Spain. This area, indicated as LEBA1, is located at a distance such that its depth ranges between 60 and 200 m. It is nestled between the submarine canyons of Cap de Creus, the Gulf of Roses, the bay of Pals and that of Cap de Begur. According to the modification of the POEM, it now becomes an area suitable for industrialisation for wind power exploitation.

That is to say, that where until now we had a special protection zone surrounded by designated areas, right at the The area with the greatest biodiversity on the entire Catalan coastline. and peninsular, becomes a polygon that the MITECO considers to be No protection is required and it is declared suitable for industrial use.. This will destroy the environment, severely altering the marine fauna and flora, and the fishing resources of the area and the rest of Catalonia, with 200 new macro wind turbines of 14 MW each.

Over 800 km of overhead lines dragging along the seabed

At depths exceeding 60 metres, current technology does not consider the installation of seabed-anchored wind turbines, as is common in northern Europe, to be cost-effective, and a solution is proposed. with large wind turbines 265 m high. These will be supported on semi-submersible platforms with a square base of 65m in width.

Contrary to what we might imagine, Floating offshore wind turbines have a wider area of impact. that the turbines are anchored to the seabed by means of foundations. This is due to them having 4 anchors to ensure their positional stability, of the catenary type, suitable only on sandy bottoms. They are formed by large iron chains. Their appearance is indicated in the following figure. The length must be at least 4 times the height (1,050 m for each chain), up to an anchor that is driven into the sandy bottom. Therefore, with More than 4 km of cables for each wind turbine, dragging along the seabed; over 840 km of overhead lines are planned across an area of 250 km²..

Submarine MAT

In addition to this cabling, we will also have a good number of kilometres of Very High Voltage (VHV submarine power cable). This VHV cable will have a movement daily log of different meter designs and Electromagnetic fields, depending on the oscillation of currents and winds. This will cause it to devastate the valuable seabed. The electrical cables used for the interconnection between wind turbines are usually triaxial types that do not generate significant electrical fields at short distances. However, according to Jaume Darné, the energy evacuation lines to the coast do not allow the use of this type of cable. It is made with single-phase cable, which does generates significant electromagnetic fields and discharges in the aquatic medium with alternating current. This makes them incompatible with the life of the species in their environment.

Watch out for the flames

According to Darné, lightning strikes are more common on land than at sea. It is predictable that, due to the height of the 256m-tall wind turbines and the movement of their blades, the new An area of around 250 square kilometres suitable for offshore wind power will become an immense lightning rod, attracting all the area's rubbish..

Physics teaches us that a lightning strike on a flat surface of a conductive medium, such as seawater, is not dangerous to marine life. This is because the discharge spreads across the surface before penetrating the water. Whereas a strike on a wind turbine, despite the blades having elements to channel the lightning, is most likely to be transmitted to the metal structure towards the base, and its semi-submerged platform. It injects the discharge's intensity directly into the sea, causing the electrocution of fish within a radius of kilometres..

Marine pollution

Wind turbines produce chemical pollution in the marine environment. The Microplastics, heavy metals, antifouling paints with endocrine disruptors, fossil fuels and greases during the construction and maintenance of wind turbines. During its operation, generate a loud noise and vibrations. This alters living conditions. The floating platforms transmit to the water with considerable efficiency, unlike wind turbines anchored to the seabed. These vibrations They affect biological processes and cause turbidity in the water, altering the life and reproduction of various species.. This affects especially of cetaceans and bluefish, which lives closer to the surface.

The blades of these immense offshore wind turbines, the largest ever built. They have a deadly effect on migratory waterbirds, causing deaths and serious injuries through direct blade strikes. 721 TP 3T of the income to the Wildlife Recovery Centres in Aragon over the past year has been due to bird and bat strikes on wind turbine blades.

The Generalitat's projection in the unrigorous PROENCAT study foresees a need for offshore wind generation on the Costa Brava by 2030 of 1 GW and projects up to 3.5 GW by 2050, and we fear that this can only be achieved by expanding the surface area of LEBA 1, due to the ’wake effect«, whereby there is a trail left by each turbine where wind speeds are reduced.

Earth mat

On the other hand, offshore wind will also have a devastating effect on terrestrial Natural Parks. The new overhead high-voltage power lines, a macro-electrical substation (ET) covering an area of 8 hectares. At the same time, future green hydrogen plants, which emit chlorinated gas into the atmosphere, caustic soda into the aquatic environment, and consume a large amount of water and land. Another aspect is the future submerged hydro-duct planned to connect the Catalan coast with Germany, via France and the Gulf of Lion.

Carbon cycle

Another controversial aspect is that, according to the scientist Dr Antonio Turiel, no study has been conducted on the life cycle of floating offshore wind in the Costa Brava. The overall carbon dioxide balance needs to be analysed. We need to know how much CO2 is necessary to consume and how much will be saved over the years throughout its entire life cycle. According to Turiel, «probably we realise more CO2 will be needed than we can save.

If we add up what will be needed for the mining and extraction of raw materials for the production of wind turbines, their manufacturing, their transport and construction, the necessary maintenance with all the boats that will run on diesel, and finally, their dismantling.» Furthermore, we must also calculate “the impact on the destruction of marine and terrestrial habitats and biodiversity that have an essential function in mitigating climate change and absorbing CO2.”

Different experts disagree

For all these reasons, the most prestigious scientists studying the marine system of the Girona coastline, such as the Dr. Josep Lloret (Associate Professor at the University of Girona), Dr Antonio Turiel (Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences, CSIC), Dr. Rafael Sardá (Scientific Researcher at the Blanes Advanced Studies Centre, CSIC), Dr Jordi Solé (Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona), Dr Alberto Olivares (Scientific Researcher at the Blanes Advanced Studies Centre, CSIC), Dr Ana Sabatés (Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences, CSIC), Dr Elisa Berdalet (Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences, CSIC), Dr. Josep Maria Gili (Research Professor of the CSIC), the Dr Ferràn Vallespinós (Biologist, CSIC Scientific Researcher and Environmental Consultant) or the Dr. Josep Vila Subirós The titulars of the University of Girona are opposed to the location of offshore wind farms on the Girona coast.

Furthermore, 22 local councils along the Costa Brava have approved votes of no confidence against the installation of offshore wind farms on the Girona coastline. In addition, the Provincial Council of Girona, the Consortia of the 3 Natural Parks, the Comarcal Councils of Alt and Baix Empordà, the Fishermen's Guilds from all along the Girona coastline, the Unió de Pagesos and environmental organisations have opposed this by organising protest events and signing manifestos against the approval of the POEM.

If the different offshore wind farms are finally installed within this POEM... ÉIt is very likely that marine flora and fauna will disappear.Exceptional, essential for mitigating climate change

According to the scientific manifesto, “We consider it essential to act with greater caution and planning when approving major infrastructure projects. The steps could be as follows:"

1 – Work on a territorial planning process that is consensual with the local area.

2 – Define the target level of energy sovereignty for Catalonia, the main external energy suppliers and the sources used.

3 – Make use of European funds to renew public infrastructure and turn it into a generator of clean energy.

4 – Facilitate access to financial resources or tax benefits for the transition for individuals and businesses.”

A Blue Silence

Article creation date: 1/3/2023.

Meta tagHow can we deal with it?

We need your support to prevent the development of future wind farms from devastating the marine wealth of the Girona coast..

The exploitation of the LEBA 1 area is heavily dependent on securing European Next Generation funds, which in turn are conditional on the Territory's acceptance of the project. Therefore, it is necessary to continue opposing it and to convey the Territory's opinion to Brussels. In fact, the European Commission has already requested that the possible impact of the Tramuntana Park on the surrounding protected areas, as defined by the Natura 2000 network, be studied.

On the other hand, we need to develop local energy generation as an alternative solution to the construction of mega-generators, whether wind or photovoltaic. Far from benefiting the territory, they serve to maintain the status quo and the exploitation of energy resources in the hands of a few, and to maintain the oligopoly.

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