Banco Sabadell, In collaboration with Cesce, held a key day to analyze the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in the context of the business internationalizationExperts debated the geopolitics of energy, the rise of renewables and the new risks and opportunities for Spanish companies in a world in full transformation.
The conference, entitled "A New Energy Architecture", featured the participation of carlos dalmau, international director of Banco Sabadell, and Pablo Arjona, Country Risk Manager for the Middle East and North Africa Region at Cesce.
Silvia López, director of the Business Hub of Banco Sabadell in Valencia, welcomed the attendees, both in person and online, and highlighted the importance of these sessions for the Banco Sabadell Business Connection Center.
Carlos Dalmau began the debate by emphasizing the importance of geopolitics in the energy sector, especially in a global context marked by the pursuit of strategic autonomy and economic security.
Pablo Arjona, from Cesce, delved into the topic, highlighting how the geographical concentration of hydrocarbons and the instability of key regions such as Middle East They have highlighted the vulnerability of the global economy. "Geopolitics has possibly been the main variable that has shaped the macroeconomic context, and energy is one of the best examples," Arjona stated.
However, the energy crisis has accelerated decarbonization and the advancement of renewable energies at a pace "far exceeding expectations," according to Arjona. In this regard, he highlighted the reduction in electricity generation costs with solar and wind power, which has made renewables a "profitable option from an economic perspective."
Arjona also analyzed the impact of the energy transition In the hydrocarbon industry, he pointed to a "stabilization phase" in oil consumption, driven largely by the rise of electric vehicles. "Estimates such as that of the International Energy Agency calculate that by 2030 electric vehicles will allow us to replace more than 8 million barrels of oil per day," he explained.
The new energy architecture, according to the Cesce expert, will bring greater "energy autonomy" and "price stability" thanks to the deployment of renewables. However, he warned about new risks, such as dependence on "critical metals" and the concentration of their production and refining in countries like China"The supply of some of these materials may be subject to arbitrary actions by China," Arjona warned.
geopolitical and economic implicationsArjona pointed out that the energy transition will pose an "enormous challenge" for oil-producing countries, although they will have varying capacities to adapt. On the other hand, countries with reserves of critical metals and China, due to its leadership in refining and energy transition technologies, are poised to be major beneficiaries.
Regarding Spain, Arjona expressed optimism, highlighting the country's "highly competitive business ecosystem" and "natural competitive advantages" in the renewable energy sector. "We have a natural competitive advantage in renewable electricity generation, simply because we have more hours of sunshine," he emphasized.
To support Spanish companies in this process, Cesce has developed instruments such as the "green policy", with more favorable conditions for operations linked to the energy transition.
During the question period, Arjona addressed concerns about the sufficiency of minerals like lithium, acknowledging the challenge and importance of promoting the recycling industry and R&D. He also analyzed the potential impact of a shift in the American government's approach to climate policy, highlighting the limitations of the U.S. administration's ability to control oil production.
Finally, Silvia López He thanked the speakers and attendees for their participation, reminding them of the upcoming Jade Empresa sessions.
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