Posted on January, 26 2006

Madrid, Spain – According to a new study commissioned by WWF-Spain, the Spanish power sector can reduce up to 58 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020, compared to emissions in 2003.

An effective and strict emission trading market and a set of ambitious measures to boost energy efficiency and renewable energies would ensure that these reductions happen at low costs for power sector companies and the energy consumers.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, Spain pledged to increase domestic emissions by not more than 15 per cent as compared to the base year 1990. In 2004, however, Spanish emissions increased by 45 per cent as compared to 1990 levels, making Spain the worst performer when it comes to meeting Kyoto targets.

The power sector is a major greenhouse gas emitter. In fact, in Spain, power companies are responsible for about 25 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. So if Spain is to meet its Kyoto target, it will only be possible through deep emission cuts in the power sector.

The new report was produced by the Technology Investigation Institute of the Universtity of Comillas in Madrid. It outlines several future scenarios, showing how the Spanish power sector could develop until the year 2010 and 2020.

The objective of the report is to provide the power sector and the legislative bodies in Spain with guidelines for certain patterns of electricity generation and consumption that need to be implemented in order to make the Spanish power sector CO₂-free by 2050.

“The report shows clearly that we can achieve a CO₂-free power sector by 2050," says Heikki W. Mesa, WWF-Spain's climate and energy expert. "This does not depend on the availability of certain technologies, but on the government’s will and capacity to take the necessary policy measures.”

"With ambitious policies, an effective emissions trading system, renewable energies backed up by adequate economic resources and binding energy efficiency targets, Spain would be an efficient and environmental friendly place for living and doing business.”