Enagás CEO Arturo Gonzalo pointed to the enormous strength of Spain’s Gas System and infrastructures, enabling it to overcome the energy challenges facing the country. “The Gas System always responds; it’s in perfect condition and it boasts excellent health”, he declared at the 2nd Energy Observatory of El Español, held in Madrid between 11 and 13 November.
“Spain is ideally prepared for the end of Russian gas imports, as envisaged by the EU”, stated Enagás’ CEO, who highlighted the key role of gas infrastructures in guaranteeing the functioning of the energy system as a whole and accelerating decarbonisation by means of renewable gases such as green hydrogen.
In this regard, he stressed that regulation will continue to play a fundamental role and that it requires a comprehensive vision so as to ensure the sustainability of the system and secure a regulatory framework in which the infrastructure operators contribute to making the transition towards renewable hydrogen.
“Hydrogen is a non-negotiable goal for Europe in which Spain is playing a prominent role. Spain has the opportunity to become the major green hydrogen hub in the EU to ensure a sustainable competitive supply”, he argued.
In a conversation with Fernando Pastor, economic correspondent of El Español, titled The challenges facing the gas network for green hydrogen, he underlined that support for the Spanish Hydrogen Backbone Network and H2med is total within the European Commission and the Spanish Government.
As for María Junco, Enagás’ General Manager of Technical System Management, she highlighted the value of artificial intelligence when it comes to continuing to streamline processes, improve flexibility and enhance decision-making in the operation of the energy system during the panel discussion titled Securing the energy supply of Europe and Spain in a scenario of uncertainty, chaired by Laura Ojea, editor-in-chief of Energy. She took part alongside Antonio Canseco, Director of the Global LNG and Gas Area at Axpo Iberia, and Joaquín Coronado, Chairman of Build to Zero.
During the round table discussion titled Green hydrogen, bubble or future? Jesús Gil, Enagás’ Director of Hydrogen, emphasised the importance of integrated infrastructure planning that includes the hydrogen network to make the Iberian Peninsula a pole of attraction for hydrogen. He took part alongside Amir Sharifi, Comex Member & Strategy Lead at Hy24, and Karla Ceño, Executive Director of Project Finance and Cleantech at BBVA.
