Catalan industry requires €9.5 billion for decarbonization

Catalan industry requires an additional 9.5 billion euros to complete its decarbonization process by 2050, according to a study by the Institut Català d’Energia (Icaen). The report, presented by Sílvia Paneque, the Minister of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition, outlines a 25-year roadmap for the sector.

The estimated annual cost for adopting low-emission technologies and processes ranges between 350 million and 450 million euros, representing approximately 1% of the sector's gross value added. This figure specifically covers industrial technological shifts and does not include broader requirements for climate neutrality, such as strengthening the electrical grid.

Of the total amount, approximately 4.9 billion euros would need to come from public financing over the next 25 years. While some investments offer short-to-medium-term savings, others remain more expensive than conventional technologies. However, the study projects annual savings of 1.2 billion euros by 2050 due to increased renewable energy penetration and the rising cost of fossil fuels.

Industry is Catalonia's second most energy-intensive sector after transport, accounting for 30.6% of total emissions. 2023 data shows 9.6 million tons of CO2 from combustion and 3.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent from industrial processes.