How did you find out about the Renantis Renewable Energy Study Support Program?
I learned about the program at the inauguration of the Carrecastro Wind Farm. I knew the particularity of this event because it was related to a great archaeological discovery in that same place, and this caught my attention. It was there when some people from the town told me about the existence of these grants and I thought that my profile could fit.
What has it meant for you to get this grant? What are you going to invest it in?
For me this grant is an opportunity to make my work more efficient. In addition to being a student, I work in a research group (Group of Energy, Economics and Dynamics of Systems, GEEDS) and these two occupations mean that I need a powerful computer to run software programmes and buy very specific books that are often expensive. This grant will allow me to retire my current computer, to which I will give other less intensive tasks, and also to invest in material such as books.
Supporting the development of talent and skills in the energy sector is one of the pillars of Renantis; tell us about your studies in the energy sector.
My training in the energy field began with a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Valladolid (UVa), where I acquired a technical vision of technologies related to electricity and, more specifically, renewable energies. Currently I continue my training in the engineering field studying the Master of Industrial Engineering at the UVa and I wanted to expand my training by joining GEEDS, where I am learning techniques to model very different issues to those we deal with at the university, with more social and environmental dyes, which address issues of great complexity such as the energy and environmental crisis. My ambition is to continue researching the impacts of climate change, addressing many more important issues!
In the future, what would you like to specialise in and work on?
In the medium term, I would like to continue my training in research and continue learning in this field, without moving away from the world of engineering. I would like to combine the development of my technical skills with continuing my participation and training in social issues, energy management and management of the planet’s resources. It is very enriching to work together with economists, physicists, demographers and other people from the social sciences. It helps to structure your mind in a different way, to be more open and critical. However, in the long term, I would also like to use my skills in an engineering project related to electricity.
Finally, what do you think of the current trends in renewable energy?
I think the 100% renewable target is a necessity, as fossil fuels are running out. For me, the most important thing is how we are going to reach this target. I think planning is a must; assessing all the consequences of renewable deployment, where to locate these technologies and managing their environmental and social impact. There is no single energy transition model and when it comes to choosing which one is best for us as a society, I think we need to look at key factors that are not, in principle, obvious. To analyse this question, science and research can help governments and companies.
Renewable energies can help us not to suffer so severely from the energy crisis we are experiencing, while at the same time allowing us not to aggravate climate change. From the GIR GEEDS of which I am a member, we work hard to evaluate policies that allow us to make a responsible use of land, of the critical materials of our planet, of renewable resources… we understand society as a system integrated by many fields: energy, economy, land use, use of materials, climate, etc. and all these areas are interrelated in the models we generate to provide useful answers to big questions about human behavior, the consequences of our decisions and their impact. I believe that these tools can help companies and politicians to plan for the much needed renewable deployment, managing resources and ensuring a fair and equal accessibility to energy, with the minimum impact.