The Renewable Foundation is a think tank established in 2010 to raise awareness about the need to change the energy model and prioritize savings, efficiency, and renewable energy as fundamental principles. It was founded by professionals with extensive experience in the energy sector and has grown by involving many citizens who want to be part of the change. The Foundation was created to address the significant need for more information in our country about energy in general and renewables in particular, a lack of knowledge perpetuating unsustainable energy models.
Renewable Foundation serves as a dialogue-oriented interlocutor in the energy debate and as a vehicle that communicates to Spanish and European societies a new vision of energy that is fundamentally more linked to ethics than to the economy, to the future rather than the present, and to urgency rather than complacency. The foundation firmly believes that the energy model based on the massive use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy is causing irreparable damage to the environment, is unsustainable, involves inevitable risks and disasters, and leads to a progressive increase in the cost of conventional technologies. Additionally, it asserts that future global economic crises will be related to energy supply and climate change’s economic and social impacts. Anticipating these future crises should be a priority for any government.
They advocate that a less fossil fuel-dependent economy, without CO2 emissions, more efficient energy use, and more renewables, is the only way to accelerate the transition to a new sustainable energy model. They propose that renewable sources should be understood within a long-term energy strategy framework, where intergenerational solidarity mandates not passing on the problems of supply security, environmental pollution, radioactive waste, and nuclear risks to future generations. They emphasize that renewables are the only energy source that, due to their indigenous, inexhaustible nature and zero-cost availability in nature, can ensure energy access for all citizens currently without it and for those in the future who will not be able to afford the incalculable costs of fossil fuel dependence. In this scenario, a new citizen’s right must be guaranteed: access to renewable energy sources. Ultimately, the technological change represented by renewables offers an invaluable opportunity to contribute to the shift in productive specialization needed by the Spanish and European economies to generate employment and advance democratization and transparency.
The foundation comprises individuals independent of all types of entities and organizations. Over time, it has become a key player in the national energy landscape through its work as an expert in self-sufficiency, decarbonization, and ecological transition. Its Board of Trustees includes thirteen professionals from various fields (companies, associations, environmental organizations, unions, research, etc.) who share the need to launch this citizen initiative to promote the change of the energy model. Trustees and Friends participate in the foundation personally and do not represent the companies or entities they work for.
The President of the Foundation is Fernando Ferrando Vitales, an engineer who held high positions in energy companies and has devoted his professional life to the development and incorporation of renewable energies and energy efficiency. He firmly believes in these activities and is convinced that they are the only way to achieve human development under the principles of equity and sustainability.
The General Director is Raquel Paule, who leads a technical team of eight people and two more for communication. Additionally, the foundation has a broad Advisory Council (26 recognized members from the Spanish climate change scenario) functioning as a consultative body aimed at promoting the achievement of foundational goals through advisory tasks, supporting the design of strategic lines, and incorporating new sensitivities expressed by outstanding individuals in the energy, environmental, and sustainability fields, thus promoting a diversity of opinions and knowledge.
Among its activities, the foundation stands out for developing studies on the energy sector, providing technical and strategic advice to municipalities and companies, and organizing and participating in educational and awareness activities such as press releases, forums, events, courses, workshops, debates, etc. Renewables Foundation also collaborates with other European and international partners to ensure that our country plays a vital role in transforming the European and global energy system, and this is where Climate Change Scorecard could make a perfect match.
All their efforts are dedicated to spreading knowledge and disseminating this new vision and request the collaboration and support of all individuals and institutions who wish to join us. The general objectives of the foundation, inspired by the pursuit of sustainability in its broadest concept, are reflected in all its activities aimed at achieving the following goals:
- Through the development of renewable energies and the rationalization of energy consumption and use, we can contribute to accelerating the change towards a sustainable energy model.
- Cooperate to reduce emissions in extraction, production, transformation, distribution, transport, and energy utilization activities.
- Contribute to generating added value for society from the implementation of renewable energies, such as the creation of industrial fabric and employment and the promotion of R&D&i.
- Promote initiatives and support policies to overcome existing barriers to developing renewable energies.
- Develop activities and initiatives to disseminate the characteristics and benefits of renewable energies and, generally, those of a rational, sustainable, decarbonized energy model.
- Introduce knowledge at all educational and cultural levels of the advantages of using renewable energies compared to other models and energy sources.
The Foundation advises public administration and private companies, develops research projects, offers courses, and provides resources to understand energy. Besides, they have created the Renewable Energies Observatory, an initiative to organize, evaluate, and make accessible all the information published about energy from various sources, as the data avalanche and the multitude of organizations and entities producing reports, balances, or studies make it very difficult to follow the natural evolution of renewable energies. This observatory makes it more accessible.
In 2022, their expenditure on activities was approximately 350,000 euros, nearly doubling since 2018.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Spain Country Manager Juanjo Santos.
Their address is in Madrid: C/ Santa Engracia, 108. 5º Interior. Izda. PC: 28003. Their phone number is +34 625 47 42 11, and their emails are:
- fundacion@fundacionrenovables.org
- comunicacion@fundacionrenovables.org