The solution to three global challenges
What is sustainable energy?
Sustainable energy is energy that is capable of meeting the energy needs of the present without compromising the resources and energy supply of the future.
Sustainable energy is the key to the transition to a new energy model, capable of addressing three global challenges: environmental conservation, energy security, and socio-economic development.
To understand what sustainable energy is, it is important to keep in mind that sustainable energy and renewable energy are two terms that are closely related, but the concept of sustainable energy also implies that it should be consumed efficiently while being affordable.
The term "renewable energy" refers to those types of energy that use non-finite resources. The concept of "sustainable energy" also has other nuances that refer to our responsibility for future generations, energy efficiency, and universal access to energy supply, among other issues. The combination of these two concepts, renewable and sustainable energy, is what can help us move towards a new energy model that also considers the future.
The current energy and climate challenges make the transition to a sustainable and renewable energy model increasingly necessary. For environmental, energy security, and economic reasons, sustainable energy is the future: to secure resources for future generations, for environmental responsibility, to improve our quality of life, and for its contribution to the economy, among other reasons.
Sustainable energy plays a key role in decarbonizing the energy supply. It also reduces dependence on fossil fuels and has generated millions of jobs around the world. At Repsol we go one step further and are committed to energy sustainability, for which we rely on innovation, technological improvement, and digital transformation.
We explain what sustainable energy is, how it differs from renewable energy, and what role it plays in our goal to transform the current energy system.
Sustainable energy is, both in its source and in its production process, clean and environmentally friendly, and goes hand in hand with efficient consumption. Only this way can we ensure that our energy consumption today does not compromise the needs of future generations.
That is why the United Nations (UN) considers this energy model to be not only positive for the environment, but also "a driver for reducing poverty, social progress, equity, resilience, and economic growth". It is also the way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For Repsol, the goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and sustainable energy has a big role to play in this goal.
Sustainable energy challenges
Environment
The fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity are two global challenges that can only be addressed through the transition to a model based on sustainable energy. The commitment to sustainable and non-polluting energy sources will make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the objectives laid out in the Paris Agreement. In addition, the sustainable energy model brings undeniable benefits for people's health in terms of improved air quality, which translates into a lower incidence of air-related diseases. What's more, the transition to sustainable energy sources minimizes dependence on large quantities of water, which helps conserve water resources and prevent water scarcity.
In short, sustainable energy comes from renewable sources, so it respects natural resources, and its production process does not generate an environmental impact or the emission of greenhouse gases or other pollutants.
Energy security
Securing energy supply, and ensuring that this is done in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner, has become a priority for all countries. This is known as energy security. The use of sustainable energies makes it possible to diversify energy sources and take advantage of natural resources and phenomena to produce other types of energy. Moreover, its sources are inexhaustible and heterogeneous. For this reason, the use of this type of energy reduces energy dependence.
The concept of energy security implies that this supply must be capable of supplying all people and sectors of activity, and that it must be carried out in a sustainable way. Energy efficiency is also relevant in this regard. Technology and digital transformation are once again fundamental here to provide tools that facilitate the transformation of the energy model and efficient consumption.
Socio-economic development
Sustainable energy has also become an important source of employment, already employing 13.7 million people worldwide, according to a report prepared by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). According to this study, the labor market associated with solar energy stands out, which employed 4.9 million people last year.
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