Today, the Government approved the draft Regional Law regulating the Navarre Energy Transition Agency (ATENA), designed to promote the transition to a sustainable energy model and contribute to the fight against the consequences of climate change in the Region.
The Minister for Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition, Mikel Irujo, explained the details of this new agency at a press conference today. It will take the form of a public business entity and will be attached to his department.
According to the minister, ‘ATENA’s objective is to contribute to the fulfilment of regional and national commitments in the field of energy transition and to achieve a sustainable energy model based on renewable energy sources, distributed generation and self-consumption’.
The Energy Transition Agency aims to be ‘a tool to combat climate change and its consequences, as well as to promote measures to adapt to them’. ‘This body will promote and implement energy efficiency, management and saving measures and will carry out studies and analyses on energy transition. It will also promote public energy initiatives in all institutional areas,’ said Minister Irujo.
Among its objectives, it highlights promoting distributed production and generation in Navarre, as well as self-consumption of renewable energies, wind, photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass, geothermal and others, seeking to generalise zero-kilometre energy, facilitating and promoting the energy sovereignty of the population of Navarre, and seeking the democratisation of energy. It will also work to position Navarre as a leader in knowledge and innovation in the energy sector.
The draft Regional Law approved today will be sent, together with the corresponding reports, to the Parliament of Navarre for deliberation and voting in the Legislative Chamber.
Support for public and private investment in renewable energy projects
Among the functions assigned to the new Energy Transition Agency, one of the most important is to propose, design and draw up the Energy Plan for Navarre, as well as the actions necessary for its full implementation. It will also collaborate in the design and monitoring of the Energy Infrastructure Plans for Navarre.
ATENA will also be responsible for promoting the implementation and management of renewable energy production systems, self-consumption and distributed generation, energy storage or management systems, electric vehicle charging systems and sustainable mobility projects in Navarre, among other similar initiatives.
In order to fulfil its objectives, it will make direct investments or support investments made by public entities through loans, guarantees or other instruments. In the case of investments by private entities, priority will be given to supporting projects promoted by non-profit organisations, particularly those carried out by energy communities
According to the draft Regional Law approved today, ATENA plans to create or participate in commercial companies with the aim of marketing electricity in a free market, managing the sale of energy surpluses from self-consumption facilities, collecting and analysing consumption data, and participating in smart demand management and other electricity system services.
It will also promote, on its own initiative or in collaboration with other private sector companies, the development of pioneering or strategic projects for Navarre in the field of energy. It will also be responsible for proposing, adopting and implementing actions aimed at promoting energy saving and efficiency and smart energy management; promoting the use of renewable energies for self-consumption and distributed generation through the sustainable management of local and renewable resources; and encouraging the use of electric transport and zero-emission vehicles.
In this regard, it should be noted that the Agency will pay special attention to energy management in the public sector, providing technical support to the contracting units of the different public administrations in Navarra, drawing up programmes to rationalise energy use and promoting the use of renewable energy resources in this area.
Smart cities focused on energy saving
The Agency will promote smart energy management by promoting electric transport, renewable energies, smart cities and smart grids, with the aim of increasing energy savings and reducing emissions.
ATENA will promote local energy communities, providing advice to individuals and local entities interested in setting them up. Along the same lines, it will provide advice and technical support on energy matters to the various public administrations, both regional and local, as well as specialised training for professionals. It will offer technical support to local entities for the drafting, implementation and review of their own climate and sustainable energy action plans.
It will also promote public and private actions and investments in carbon dioxide absorption, the preservation and improvement of carbon sinks and adaptation to climate change. It will promote public and private actions and investments in R&D&I projects in the field of energy transition and the fight against climate change.
Among its tasks, it will develop information and public awareness campaigns. The energy projects proposed by the Agency will be open to public participation, both in their design and financing.
Full press conference (link a: https://www.youtube.com/live/909XtggHCX4 )