In terms of sustainability, we set the standard!

The University of Santiago de Compostela and Genesal Energy create the first Energy Transition Chair of Galicia

In our commitment to sustainability, and because we are convinced that caring for the environment is a collective responsibility, at Genesal Energy we have returned to the classrooms to create, in collaboration with the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), the first Energy Transition Chair in Galicia. 

The presentation was held in the rector’s hall of the San Xerome school and was chaired by the rector of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Antonio López, and by Julio Arca, our Director of Finance and Strategy.

At the event, the rector stressed that science “is a crucial piece for the transition and energy sovereignty” and expressed his conviction that this new Chair “is a step along the way as it intensifies the link between university activity and industry”. Meanwhile, the head of Finance and Strategy at Genesal Energy emphasized the importance of investing in clean energy and in solutions that allow progress to be made towards the energy transition.  “The energy transition is essential in the actions against climate change. Transport, industry, and electricity generation account for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, with the electricity sector having the greatest potential to reduce emissions”, explained Julio Arca in his speech.

The presentation of the Chair also featured the participation of Gumersindo Feijoo Costa, vice-rector of Planning, Technologies and Sustainability of the USC; Montserrat Valcárcel Armesto, vice-rector of Coordination of the Lugo Campus; Enrique Roca Bordello, director of the Chair; Marcela Fernández, head of the R&D&I Management Unit of Genesal Energy; Paula Avendaño, our head of Marketing and Communication, and Marta Blanco, legal advisor of the company.

What is the energy transition and why a chair in this field?

The energy transition is the process of transformation or set of changes that must be made to move from the current models of energy production, distribution, and consumption, based on the use of fossil fuels, to more sustainable ones based on the use of renewable energies, electrification and distributed production. Alternative fuels, digitalisation, energy efficiency and the circular economy are key to achieving this.

We believe in public-private collaboration in the areas of knowledge management and its application in society. In this sense, the creation of the Energy Transition Chair will allow us to further strengthen collaboration with the University and intensify the relationship between university activity and the energy industry at a crucial time when the ecological transition -and within it the energy transition- acquires special relevance given its direct involvement in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to research and training.

Where are the headquarters?

The headquarters of the Energy Transition Chair are located at the Superior Technical College of Engineering (ETSE) of the USC (Research Group on Engineering and Management of Sustainable Processes and Products) and at our CETED (Distributed Energy Technology Centre) facilities, located at the company’s headquarters in Bergondo (A Coruña).

What are its objectives?

Research, the promotion of teaching and the dissemination of knowledge in the field of energy transition, and more specifically in aspects oriented towards distributed energy systems, are the main objectives of this training, which has an impact on the following factors:

  • Encourage the implementation and participation in R&D&I projects.
  • Development of distributed energy network systems based on zero-emission fuels.
  • To organise activities that contribute to facilitating reflection and debate in the field of energy transition, ensuring that it is increasingly linked to the training of undergraduate and Master’s degree students in disciplines related to the purpose of the Chair.
  • Promote the allocation and announcement of prizes for projects, idea competitions and final degree and master’s degree projects.
  • Promote curricular and extracurricular internships for students at Genesal Energy.
  • Organise specialisation courses, conferences, seminars, meetings with experts and visits to entities, companies and institutions related to the purpose of the Chair.
  • Facilitate the professional insertion of USC students by participating, where appropriate, in the activities carried out by the Chair.

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