• Nestlé presented a project to introduce efficiency measures at its production centres, with which it plans to reduce energy and water bills by approximately 50%.
  • Through its foundation, GAS NATURAL FENOSA promotes information, training and increased public awareness on improving energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy.

In Sevilla earlier today, the Secretary-General for Innovation, Industry and Energy of the Regional Government of Andalucía, Vicente Fernández, and the Managing Director of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Martí Solà, opened the seminar entitled Energy and Water in Agriculture and Food. The final speech at the seminar was given by the Councillor for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Science and Employment of the Regional Government of Andalucía, José Sánchez Maldonado.

During the seminar, which was attended by over 140 professionals, various experts examined the importance of energy in the water cycle and how, in some cases, water consumption is reduced by increasing energy consumption - as occurs in irrigated farming. The speakers underlined how energy costs in the agri-food sector - from farming production through to the preparation and distribution of foodstuffs - are increasing and threatening the competitiveness of a key economic activity for Andalucía and Spain.

Pedro Ruíz Rodríguez, a specialist in corporate environmental sustainability at Nestlé Spain, presented a project to introduce efficiency measures at its production centres, which are expected to reduce their energy and water bills by approximately 50% while also improving their environmental impact. As examples, the Nestlé engineer mentioned the solutions applied at the factories in Sevares (Asturias) and La Penilla (Cantabria), which include cogeneration, consumption control and power rating review, the introduction of variable speed and frequency drives on machinery and motors, and air compressors with energy recovery capacities to use water from the cooling system.

Miquel Salgot, professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Barcelona, explained the importance of the water-energy pairing throughout history and how water has gained an increasingly significant place in the energy cycle. He also explained the role played by energy in the water cycle, pointing out that hydro-electricity accounts for approximately one quarter of all electricity generated worldwide.


Energy and water: A key inter-relationship for irrigation farming

Emilio Camacho, Professor of Hydraulics and Irrigation at the University of Cordoba, insisted that, although the Spanish irrigation sector is one of the most technologically-advanced in the world, a large proportion of irrigation is carried out using methods that require pressure. This means that energy consumption is very high, representing a highly significant portion of production costs and damaging productivity in the sector.

In turn, Jesús Gil, Professor of Forestry Engineering and Chairman of the Spanish Association for Conservation Agriculture and Living Soils, described more efficient farming systems from the point of view of energy, costs and the environment. The speaker presented the results of the project entitled Life+Agricarbon: Sustainable agriculture in carbon arithmetics, which has managed to reduce fuel consumption while improving yield and energy efficiency on farmland in Andalucía and reduce CO2 emissions.

Juan Antonio Rodríguez, Doctor in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Cordoba, presented various saving and efficiency strategies for irrigator associations based on the performance of energy audits, distribution network zoning, the identification of critical pressure points, the adaptation of pumping to various consumption scenarios and the correct operation of the pumping station.

Meanwhile, the Director of Quality and Sustainability at Carrefour Spain, Mariano Rodríguez, presented a number of actions and new technologies that have been incorporated into food distribution and sales channels, stressing that water and energy efficiency should not only be based on internal consumption but also on the products being marketed, the containers and packaging used, and the production systems involved, especially agricultural systems.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, founded in 1992, mainly focuses on the promotion of information, training and increased social awareness about improving energy efficiency and technological innovation in the field of energy while respecting and protecting the environment. Through its Gas Museum, it promotes cultural activities to preserve and publicise the industry's historical and cultural heritage. It also has a programme to support exports for Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises. It operates internationally in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Italy and Moldova.


Sevilla, 24 February 2015

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