Good morning,
Today’s newsletter is about energy and technology solutions. This topic was already presented in Strategic Management and Sustainability #6 where the types of renewable energies were explained as well as case in newsletter #1 with the energy transition as a business among other newsletters. In other newsletters (i.e. #3, some other type of technologies solutions have been pointed too (RFID, IoT…). On the other side, following our Strategic Management Course, some examples of internationalization or collaborative strategies are mentioned too.
Can Spain become a world benchmark in transport electrification? Check Andrés Pires Franco’s post below.
Alvaro Mohedano brings an example of internationalization in energy sector: Esparity Solar, the Spanish subsidiary of the British investment group Esparity that will deploy its first its first photovoltaic solar park in Spain.
And Kendall Brown explains how Bechtel and Nautilus partner to combine technology and water to solve some of the problems data centers have ... Find more below!
Have a nice weekend!
Gloria Álvarez Hernández
Today's newsletter is 1046 words, about a 4.5-minute read.
Can Spain become a global reference in transport electrification?
Andrés Pires Franco
News that the Spanish transport sector can become a global reference is great for our economy because electrification favors an improvement in energy efficiency, as it allows substantial energy savings to be generated thanks to greater efficiency.
For example, according to data from Deloitte (1) it is estimated that:
· The electric vehicle is between two and 3 times more efficient than a conventional vehicle with internal combustion, which would mean a consumption saving of more than 60%.
· Heat pumps used for heating in buildings are between three and four times more efficient than oil or gas boilers, which means a saving of 40% in the consumption of an average household.
· In turn, the complete renovation of a building (in terms of enclosures, windows, appliances, lighting, etc.) can also save around 40% compared to a house that has not been renovated.
Electrification also allows other environmental improvements, such as improving air quality by contributing to lower levels of particulate and other pollutant emissions, especially in densely populated or industrialized areas. This, therefore, not only improves the environment, but also the quality of life of the population living in these cities, and public health in general. By helping to prioritize renewable energies, electrification reduces our country's dependence on fossil fuels imported from other countries.
I think that Spain should take advantage of this privileged situation and be among the most “electrificated” countries, therefore complying with 2030 and 2050 objectives, as well as have a more sustainable, more resilient, and efficient economic growth model, this transport system would also favor economic transformation and modernization.
Sources:
https://www.corresponsables.com/actualidad/espana-referente-mundial-electrificacion-transporte
(1)Deloitte (2015). Energy efficiency and electrification. A smart transition towards a sustainable energy model for Spain in 2050.
Investment in photovoltaic plants in Spain
Álvaro Mohedano Esparza
Esparity, aims to complete its first photovoltaic solar park in Spain in Navarre before the end of 2022.
In total, these projects underway have a total capacity of 586 megawatts (MW) to be installed. The largest of these is the one planned to be installed in Cordovilla, Navarre, with a capacity of 150 MW and an estimated investment of 100 million euros for its construction and equipment.
The project has already passed the public information phase after having reached a consensus with both the town councils affected by the planned power line and with the landowners, with whom it is also planned to use the park's land for agricultural and livestock purposes.
The promoter's projects are located in Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and the Valencia region. It is in the latter region where it is seeking a larger implementation, with a total of 5 plants with a planned capacity of between 36 and 50 MW each.
With this large investment in photovoltaic plants, it will contribute to the sustainable development of the planet and increase the use of solar energy in Spain, which is a clean and non-polluting source of energy.
Sources:
Álvarez, Á. (2021, 19 noviembre). Esparity Solar invertirá 380 millones en nueve plantas fotovoltaicas en España. elEconomista.es. https://www.eleconomista.es/energia/noticias/11484933/11/21/Esparity-Solar-invertira-380-millones-en-nueve-plantas-fotovoltaicas-en-Espana.html
Surprise! Technology and Water Do Mix
Kendall Brown
Data centers may store data, but money is not the only form of payment. The more information these infrastructures process, the more power, and cooling is required to keep them operational. The answer to this complex issue comes from quite the unorthodox.
Bechtel, a renowned construction company with over 25,000 projects completed in 160 countries, has teamed up with Nautilus, known for its patented TRUE (Total Resource Usage Effectiveness) cooling system. TRUE will incorporate industrial and maritime water-cooling technology into the data centers, which will improve efficiency and lower energy costs.
To put it simply, “Data centers support critical aspects of local, regional and international economic development. As demand for these facilities continues to grow, so does the demand for the resources necessary to power and cool them,” says Peter Nelson, Director of Infrastructure Development at Bechtel Enterprises. The Nautilus technology will be a massive support in constructing the large-scale data centers that it takes to operate a smart city, public health, transportation, and security sectors.
TRUE has been proven to eliminate water consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce little to no waste by sourcing their water from naturally occurring sources like streams and rivers rather than the typical drinking water. Such a technological breakthrough means a 70% decrease in power consumption and a net 30+% in energy-related CO2 emissions. This strong partnership will foster the introduction of data centers in urban, rural, and developing areas worldwide.
Source: