The territorial component of the energy transition in Catalonia

Abstract

European societies are immersed in a process of transition towards an energy system based on renewable sources that can bring undoubted environmental and social benefits. However, this transition can have notable negative impacts at the local level if it is not accompanied by development criteria that guarantee attention to the environmental, social and economic elements of the territories where the new energy infrastructures are located. This article analyses the question of the territorial impact of the energy transition based on the case of Catalonia. It is divided into four sections. The first offers an overview of the energy transition. The second provides an analysis on the state of the energy transition in Catalonia. The third section projects various scenarios for the 2050 horizon. Finally, the work closes with some reflections on the need for an integrating vision of the various factors that intervene in the energy transition process.