Published on 13 December in Periódico de la Energía
Sustainable energy management has a key role to play in improving the social perception of industry.
In the collective imagination, industry still evokes smoky smokestacks and grey factories similar to those portrayed by Charles Dickens in his novels. According to the report The Social Perception of Industry in Spain, produced by the Centre for Industrial Strategy and Prospective (CEPI, 2023), the public’s understanding of industry is ‘medium-low’, and only 48% consider it to be innovative. This anachronistic view makes it difficult to recognise the role industry plays today.
It seems, therefore, quite urgent, as Eduardo Montes pointed out at the conference Industry in Spain: towards a new reality, to overcome the image of industry as a ‘dirty’ sector and highlight its true nature as clean, advanced, and designed to lead the ecological and social transition.
And in this process of changing perceptions, energy management plays a central role because adopting more sustainable solutions is evidence of the industry’s unequivocal commitment to a shared future. This effort must be led by industry itself, actively demonstrating its role as part of the solution: a message that the public needs to hear.
Industry and society: a pending conversation
Collaboration between industry and citizens is not a luxury, but a necessity. According to the CEPI report, 80% of citizens support the installation of new industries for the jobs they create, but 70% fear their environmental impacts. This distrust reflects the need for concrete actions to show how industry can be an ally of social welfare.
An inspiring case is the odour monitoring system of the Association of Chemical Companies of Tarragona (AEQT), which involves the community in the management of industrial odours through the NasApp application. The data reported by citizens is used to adjust processes and improve air quality.
Such initiatives not only create healthy environments, but also strengthen the link between industry and citizens. Industry is not isolated from society: it is an extension of it and depends on its trust to thrive. Industry wants and requires citizen participation to build a relationship of mutual trust and shared commitment.
The locomotive of the economy: industry’s pull effect
Industry is also the heart that pumps vitality to the rest of the economy. Beyond generating employment, it has a multiplier effect that benefits other economic sectors, strengthening competitiveness and economic resilience.
A clear example of this pull effect is the project developed in Barcelona by Veolia, Enagás and the City Council, which reuses the residual cold of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to supply a sustainable urban network. This system generates 131 GWh of clean energy per year, enough to supply a city like Reus, and avoids the emission of 32,000 tonnes of CO₂. It is also planned to be implemented in Mercabarna, improving the efficiency of its cold stores.
Projects like this turn waste into resources, transforming what was once waste into economic, social and environmental value. These initiatives underline the crucial role of energy management as a catalyst for strengthening the pull effect of industry.
Conclusion: Industry as a reflection of our humanity
Industry is not just a collection of machines and processes. Made in our image, it is a mirror of our essence. Every innovation that emerges from industrial activity carries an implicit message: the aspiration to make our ideas serve society and be available to all.
As Jacques Cousteau said, ‘we only love what we know’, so we need to rediscover our relationship with industry, reconcile with it and actively participate in its evolution. Sustainable energy management stands as the bridge that connects industry with citizens, demonstrating its key role in building a shared future.