Today, the Minister of Universities, Business and Research of the Autonomous Region of Murcia, José Ballesta, and the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Pedro Fábregas, inaugurated the seminar in Murcia " Personalised Electricity:  Smart Grids and the Citizens."

Moreover, during the seminar, the book on smart grids was presented, edited by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and elaborated by the Research Institute of the Higher Technology School of Engineering (ICAI) of the Comillas Pontifical University, under the direction of Tomás Gómez.

The seminar, organised on the initiative of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation and the Region of Murcia, analysed the new energy landscape with multiple generators and many different types of consumers, which requires different electrical networks, "intelligent grids" capable of integrating the needs and requirements of these new generators and of these new customers.

In his speech, the coordinator of the Sustainable Smart Electricity Grids Area of the Technology Research Institute of the Comillas Pontifical University, Pablo Frías, defined the electrical system, its phases and costs. Moreover, he explained in detail the various components of electricity rates, its costs and why we have to change the electricity networks in Spain, besides presenting the book Las redes eléctricas inteligentes (Smart Grids), which he authored.

The Director of the Electricity Network Management of GAS NATURAL FENOSA Blanca Losada, explained the challenge posed by intelligent networks or smart grids for utilities and indicated that these networks will permit a secure, efficient and sustainable supply to be achieved. Applying the model of smart grids will mean making appropriate use of technologies and solutions, in order to better plan and exploit existing networks, intelligently control generation (including of renewable energy) and enable new services and improvements in efficiency.

The President of Grupo ZIV, Norberto Santiago, reported on specific aspects to modify and how to do so, based on information technology (ICT) and on the companies supplying electric components,  also providing the point of view of suppliers to the electricity industry.

 
Intelligent homes, the electric car and active demand management

The Head of Energy Efficiency Promotion of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, María Pérez, spoke about how to integrate homes and convert them into active participants in smart grids. The incorporation of this new participant requires overcoming technological and social barriers in order to generate new opportunities.

In his turn, the Head of the Electric Car of the Altran company, Miquel Mateu emphasised that the entry of the electric car in the market is provoking the creation of a new paradigm for the transport and the management of energy.  However, to make it a reality, we still need to be able to count on smart grids and better storage systems.

Finally, the head of the Department of the Smart Grids Institute of the Energy Technology Institute of Valencia, Ignacio Delgado, stated that the goal of active demand management is the optimisation of final energy consumption and therefore, the reduction of the cost of this consumption, without sacrificing quality and still meeting the needs of the users.

The seminar, which was closed by the Minister of the Presidency of the Autonomous Region of Murcia, Manuel Campos, and by the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Pedro Fábregas, was attended by about 120 professionals from various sectors, especially the energy and renewable energies sectors as well as technicians from the government, academia and research.

By holding this seminar, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation continues to develop its activities and the dissemination of significant elements of energy and the environment, to promote environmental protection and the information, training and increase in the awareness of society of respect for  and the conservation of the environment.