• The energy transition towards electrification cannot be understood as a short-term issue: it must be seen as a marathon, not a sprint.

  • Representatives from industrial companies Roca and Alier will present their solutions, while Nedgia will analyze the role that biogas can play in the industrial decarbonization process.

  • Hard-to-electrify doesn’t mean giving up on electrification, but rather finding the right solutions at each stage, as demonstrated by Roca’s electric furnace initiative.

  • The roundtable discussion “Renewable Alternatives in Hard-to-Electrify Industrial Processes” will take place on Wednesday, June 4, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in Sala Serveo at the La Farga trade fair venue in L’Hospitalet (Barcelona).

May 23, 2025

Electrification has become a central topic in today’s energy debate. Following the recent blackout, the issue has returned to the headlines and shaken some previously held assumptions. Can we continue to place the same confidence in electrification as a driver of decarbonization? Are we prepared to enhance its resilience and adaptability? How does this scenario shift business and industrial decision-making?

At a time when public attention and the media are focused on the immediate effects of this disruption, Foro Industria y Energía (FIE) proposes lifting our gaze toward a broader horizon. The energy transition—a complex and multidimensional process—cannot be understood solely through short-term lenses. It requires reflection, strategy, and above all, the ability to act without waiting for all the answers.

A time to focus on direction, not speed

In this context, Foro Industria y Energía is organizing the roundtable “Renewable Alternatives in Hard-to-Electrify Industrial Processes,” to be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, in Sala Serveo at the La Farga trade fair venue in L’Hospitalet (Barcelona), as part of Net Zero Tech 2025. Moderated by Albert Concepción, director of FIE, the session will feature Carlos Velázquez, Director of Sustainability and Institutional Relations at Roca; Ignacio Cabané, Head of Renewable Gas Grid Connection at Nedgia; and Manuel Fernández, Circular Economy Project Manager at Alier.

This gathering aims to add nuance, share experiences, and pose relevant questions at a time when, more than absolute answers, we aim to offer perspective. The speakers will share how their organizations are navigating the challenges of hard-to-electrify processes, offering valuable insights and practical approaches to key questions such as: How are industries preparing for a robust and adaptable energy matrix that combines multiple sources and technologies? Do we still have the same confidence in electrification after the blackout? What are the key criteria for short- and mid-term decarbonization investment decisions? And how can collaboration between industry, technology developers, and regulators be strengthened to overcome current and future barriers?

Energy transition: a marathon, not a sprint

The roundtable comes at a critical moment, as public discourse becomes polarized around immediate certainties. But perhaps that’s one of the major misunderstandings of the energy transition: forgetting that it’s a process. And like any process, it doesn’t unfold overnight. Yes, the climate emergency demands action—but that urgency shouldn’t be confused with the need for immediacy. The energy transition, therefore, cannot be approached like a sprint. While it may often seem to be treated that way, it actually resembles a long-distance marathon much more closely. This conceptual confusion is not trivial: it directly influences how we design policies, allocate resources, and evaluate results. A marathon requires athletes with long-term vision, capable of pacing themselves, managing effort, and adapting to changing conditions. The goal is not to start fast, but to finish strong.

“Hard-to-electrify” doesn’t mean “impossible to electrify”

This mindset shift demands something uncomfortable but essential: making decisions—and accepting that not everything can be done at once. Sometimes, we must give up one path to move forward on another. We also need to recognize that, in a rapidly evolving landscape, the pursuit of perfection can be a trap. As the saying attributed to Voltaire goes, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” If we wait for the perfect solution, we risk implementing none. The obsession with finding the ultimate technology can be paralyzing. Viable options are discarded for not being flawless; decisions are delayed due to lack of absolute certainty; investments are postponed because the context doesn’t yet seem “ideal.” But the transition doesn’t wait. Progressing with what we have, accepting imperfections, and understanding that trade-offs are part of the journey—all of this is essential.

In this long-distance race, electrification continues to play a key role—but not an exclusive one. Certain high-temperature industrial processes are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to electrify with current technologies. This is where other innovative solutions come into play, helping shape a more robust, diversified, and resilient energy mix. These are not shortcuts, but complementary paths that, with an open technological mindset, can help meet our shared goals. Moreover, it’s important to remember that “hard-to-electrify” doesn’t necessarily mean “impossible to electrify,” as shown by Roca’s electric furnace project, already operating in Europe and now beginning implementation in Spain.

Ambition without realism is illusion. Realism without ambition is resignation.

The energy transition is neither linear nor simple. Yet in its fragmented, evolving, and challenging nature lies the opportunity to build a more resilient model. It’s not about choosing between blind faith and paralyzing perfectionism—but about moving forward through calm analysis, adaptive capacity, and collective action.

Our discussion at Net Zero Tech doesn’t aim to deliver final answers, but rather to contribute to a deeper understanding of a process that will define our industrial and energy future. Because the marathon continues—and it’s time to reassess the strategy. The road to climate neutrality demands a vision that blends ambition with realism. At Foro Industria y Energía, we are committed to fostering a constructive dialogue that recognizes both the challenges and the opportunities of this historic transformation. We invite you to join us in this collective reflection on how to make the energy transition a fair, effective, and sustainable process for all sectors of our economy and society.