F4E participates at the 1st Barcelona Energy Days

Energy is a key factor for our societies and for our well-being. Our needs for energy are high and keep increasing every day. It is expected that the world demand will rise by 30% in the next 20 years. This is the equivalent of adding another China and India to the world economy. Similar growth rates are expected for the second half of the century. Today, we get most of our energy from fossil fuels: they still represent around 80% of our energy mix. However coal, oil and gas cause environmental pollution and are responsible for climate change. The world needs to find a way to reconcile the potential for growth without putting at risk the well-being and future of the planet.

The European Union is leading the efforts for clean energy aiming to reduce its gas emissions by 80-95% by the year 2050. This will bring important changes to the long-term structure of energy systems, the “energy transition” as its widely known. The 1^stBarcelona Energy Days, organised by UPC BarcelonaTech University, the Government of Catalonia, the City Halls of Barcelona and Sant Adrià de Besòs, and Fusion for Energy, highlighted different ways to achieving this important target. A sustainable energy mix is the answer for the future, and Europe is at the forefront of developing one of the most promising long-term options— fusion power.

 The Conference took place at the Campus Diagonal Besòs of UPC on 19 June 2018. It brought together more than 200 professionals and experts from public administration and industry, as well as representatives from the European Commission, the Government of Catalonia and F4E. This was the first edition of the Barcelona Energy days, organised in the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Days, an initiative of the European Commission.