According to the 2nd edition of the Observatory of Trends in the Context of the Energy Transition, prepared by Exolum
- The report notes how decarbonisation will progress at different rates across sectors and will require a combination of different technological solutions to meet the targets set out in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC)
- Sectors such as heavy transport, aviation and energy-intensive industries will need to complement electrification with renewable fuels, hydrogen and other solutions in order to make progress towards decarbonisation in the short and medium term
Madrid, April 9, 2026.
The energy transition in Spain is entering a new, more demanding and complex phases, where the main challenge is no longer the availability of technological solutions, but the ability to roll them out quickly, at scale and competitively in order to meet real demand. This is one of the key findings of the second edition of the Observatory of Trends in the Context of the Energy Transition, presented today by Exolum.
The report highlights how decarbonisation is progressing at different rates across sectors. While the electricity sector continues to lead the way in reducing emissions, sectors such as transport, construction and industry face greater challenges and must streamline the roll-out of low-carbon solutions tailored to their specific needs.
In this context, the Observatory advocates an approach based on a combination of technologies and technological neutrality as a means of making effective progress towards the targets set out in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), taking into account the diversity of situations and the varying degrees of maturity within each sector.
During the launch event, attended by representatives from public authorities and the energy sector, Sara Aagesen, Third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, stated that “The energy transition is essential for the well-being of society. The Spanish energy system has a perfectly integrated logistics infrastructure, thanks to which we can remain confident and respond to challenging situations. Thank you to Exolum for its work as a strategic player in our country’s supply chain.”
Decarbonisation is progressing at varying rates and will require a combination of different energy solutions
The Observatory makes clear that the energy transition is not progressing at the same pace across all sectors. Sectors such as transport, industry, buildings and agriculture account for a large proportion of energy consumption and emissions, and face greater challenges in reducing their carbon footprint, making it necessary to accelerate the roll-out of solutions tailored to each case. Buildings, heating and domestic hot water account for nearly 60% of residential energy consumption, underlining the need to accelerate their transformation.
In the field of mobility, transport is once again the largest consumer of final energy, driven by growing demand and an ageing vehicle fleet. Transport remains the biggest emitter by some distance, with emissions rising by 3.1%, reflecting the growing pressure on this sector. Although electrification is certainly advancing, the pace is not yet sufficient to offset this pressure, which underscores the need to scale up the use of renewable fuels. This need is particularly important in sectors like aviation and shipping, where solutions such as SAF and biomethanol are emerging as key pathways to decarbonisation in the coming years.
The report emphasises how electrification will remain a cornerstone of the energy transition, although its roll-out poses growing challenges in terms of integrating renewable energy, grid capacity, storage and demand management within an increasingly complex and demanding system. In this context, the Spanish electricity system has surpassed 147 GW of installed capacity, with renewable energy sources playing an increasingly significant role, highlighting how the challenge is no longer simply to add new capacity, but to ensure its efficient integration and manage its variability.
In the industrial sector, decarbonisation is increasingly focused on carbon management (CCUS), crucial for sectors that are difficult to electrify and for maintaining competitiveness in the European context. The development of infrastructure capable of capturing, transporting and storing CO₂ will be crucial to making progress in this process and enabling new value chains linked to synthetic fuels and other decarbonised products.
In this context, the Observatory notes that the energy transition will require a combination of different solutions – electrification, advanced biofuels, e-fuels, renewable hydrogen, renewable gases and carbon capture technologies – depending on the maturity of each sector, the availability of infrastructure and economic conditions.
Javier Goñi, CEO of Exolum, has stated that “the energy transition must, above all, be a logistical transition.” The success of new energy sources depends on our ability to connect them efficiently to consumption points. “Our infrastructure is already capable of adapting to these new requirements, ensuring security of supply and offering competitive solutions for sectors that are difficult to electrify.”
The sectoral debate highlights the need to align demand, regulation and infrastructure
During the launch event, attended by leading representatives from the energy sector, industry, public authorities and the European Commission, it became clear that the energy transition will require greater coordination between public policy, technological development and real demand, particularly in sectors such as mobility, industry and air travel.
A roundtable discussion on mobility and transport highlighted the complexity of moving towards more sustainable models against a backdrop of rising demand, cost pressures and the need to adapt infrastructure and energy solutions to the idiosyncrasies of each form of transport.
Meanwhile, in the debate on the energy transition and society, participants emphasised the importance of a stable framework that allows for investment, boosts industrial competitiveness and ensures a balanced transition from an economic and social perspective.
The event was brought to a close by Jorge Guillén, CEO of Exolum Iberia, highlighting the Observatory’s value as a tool that objectively demonstrates which aspects of the energy transition are progressing most successfully and which require greater attention.
The report concludes that Spain is well placed to progress in this process, thanks to a well-developed, flexible and adaptable energy infrastructure network. In this regard, the reuse and repurposing of existing assets will
help accelerate the roll-out of new energy sources, reducing costs and avoiding operational bottlenecks.
The study draws on data from a variety of sources, including APPA Renovables, AEDIVE, the National Statistics Institute (INE), the CNMC and the IDAE, among others, and combines retrospective and prospective analyses of the energy system, as well as developments in the regulatory framework and the economic context.
