News

26/03/26

Led by Iberdrola España, the Q-Cero Alliance is launched in Oviedo to highlight decarbonisation opportunities for the Asturian economy

The Asturian Federation of Entrepreneurs (FADE), in collaboration with Iberdrola España, hosted a conference to present the alliance for thermal decarbonisation
Representatives from the Principality of Asturias attended, including Borja Sánchez, Regional Minister for Science, Industry and Employment, along with executives from companies such as ArcelorMittal, Bayer, Saint-Gobain, Windar, Gonvarri and TSK

Electrification

Group of attendees seated in an event space during an institutional session on decarbonization.

Attendees at the Alianza Q-Cero launch event

The Q-Cero Alliance was launched today in Oviedo to highlight the opportunities that decarbonisation offers for the Asturian economy. The event, organised by the Asturian Federation of Entrepreneurs (FADE) in collaboration with Iberdrola España, brought together around 100 participants.

Held at Espacio Circus, the event was attended by Borja Sánchez, Regional Minister for Science, Industry and Employment of the Government of Asturias.

During the session, Marta Sánchez Álvarez, Partner and Head of Energy at EY, presented the report “Industrial Competitiveness and the Energy Transition”, which analyses the current state of industrial decarbonisation in Spain and Europe. The report highlights key barriers that still persist, particularly grid capacity constraints for connecting new electricity-intensive demand. The study concludes that decarbonising industrial heat represents an immediate opportunity to strengthen competitiveness, thanks to the maturity of available technologies and the stabilising effect that renewable growth is having on electricity prices.

Representatives from leading companies in the region—including ArcelorMittal Asturias, Bayer La Felguera (Bayer Hispania), Saint-Gobain Glass, Windar, Gonvarri and TSK—shared first-hand insights into their decarbonisation processes and the opportunities this transformation is creating for Asturias’ engineering sector and manufacturing of components for renewable energy and decarbonization.

More than 150 organisations have already joined the Q-Cero Alliance, an initiative to decarbonise thermal demand in Spain promoted by the itdUPM (Polytechnic University of Madrid) and Tecnalia, and supported by Iberdrola España.

The initiative, open to all stakeholders, serves as a platform for dialogue to accelerate decarbonisation, particularly among industrial thermal energy users, and to help tackle climate change.

Eduardo Montejo Ayala, speaking on behalf of the Q-Cero Alliance, stated: “The energy system is undergoing a genuine technological revolution driven by electrification. Advances in recent years have made renewable energy the most cost-effective way to generate electricity globally, while also accelerating developments in areas such as battery storage, electric mobility and heat pump deployment.” He added that this evolution is enabling the electrification and decarbonisation of traditionally hard-to-abate sectors such as ceramics, although he stressed that adequate electricity grid infrastructure is essential to ensure that competitive electricity can effectively reach industry.

He also placed this transition within an increasingly complex geopolitical context, where dependence on fossil fuels represents a clear risk: “We saw this with the war in Ukraine, and we are seeing it again with tensions in the Middle East.” He noted that gas price volatility highlights the need to move towards an energy system based on local, clean and stable sources that strengthen energy security and autonomy.

Montejo emphasised that the energy transition and electrification are not only a response to these challenges, but also a major industrial opportunity. He highlighted the potential to develop industrial capabilities in manufacturing components linked to decarbonisation, renewable energy structures and advanced engineering services, supported by a strong industrial base and access to competitive energy. To fully seize these opportunities, he stressed the importance of continued public policy support—as already promoted by the Government of Asturias—as well as stronger collaboration between businesses, universities and public institutions, working together to accelerate decarbonisation and position industry in an increasingly competitive environment.

María Calvo Carvajal, President of FADE, stated: “Decarbonisation is not a cost—it is an investment that makes us less vulnerable, more competitive and more in control of our industrial future.” She added that recent events have underscored the urgency of reducing energy dependence: “Every process we electrify and every kilowatt we generate from our own sources is a step towards greater resilience.”

The energy transition: an opportunity for Spain

The Q-Cero Alliance is conceived as an open platform where stakeholders can come together to assess the current situation, share progress, identify bottlenecks and develop proposals to accelerate the decarbonisation of thermal demand across sectors—while maintaining competitiveness and unlocking the opportunities of the energy transition.

Industrial decarbonisation, particularly of thermal demand, represents a new industrial revolution and a unique opportunity for Spain, and for Catalonia, in terms of economic growth and quality job creation, positioning the country to lead the economy of the future.

The European Union’s forthcoming Clean Industrial Deal aims to address these challenges by boosting competitiveness through deeper industrial decarbonisation, with electrification as the fastest and most efficient pathway.

Electrifying heat is essential not only to protect the environment, but also to strengthen energy independence and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports.

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