Great Interest in Advancing Local Energy Transition in Baroña

• by OEGA
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On February 19, the Galician Wind Observatory (GWO) participated in an awareness and advisory session with the local community of Baroña, in Porto do Son, to promote a citizen-led and locally controlled energy transition. The event, organized by the Baroña Community Land Association, also received support from the Barbanza Socio-Ecological Laboratory, the Interuniversity Research Center for Atlantic Cultural Landscapes (CISPAC), and the Histagra research group at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC).

The session was led by Xavier Simón, Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Vigo and head of OEGA. Participants discussed key factors for developing energy communities: the availability of natural resources, access to appropriate technology, active citizen involvement, and a regulatory framework supporting such initiatives. These fundamental elements give rise to crucial aspects that were also addressed during the event. On one hand, it is essential to define a business model tailored to each specific case. On the other hand, it is crucial to establish relationships with external stakeholders, including electricity distributors, suppliers, cooperative initiatives, and various levels of government—local, regional, and estate.

Over 80 People Attended the Event

The advisory session facilitated by GWO highlighted the significant interest in energy transition within the Barbanza region. The event was attended by numerous families, local businesses, and third-sector organizations.

Porto do Son currently has nearly 36 MW of installed wind power capacity, with over 50 wind turbines generating renewable electricity. The electricity produced by these wind farms is three times the total average consumption across all sectors in Porto do Son. Simón raised a critical question: How much of this energy or the revenues generated from it remain within the local community? Attendees unanimously pointed out that the local community is merely a passive observer in the wind energy business, which is dominated by external companies and multinational corporations that exploit local renewable resources.

Citizen-led energy communities offer a real alternative to transform the nature of the energy transition, which has so far been controlled by the same actors who profited from fossil fuels while emitting millions of tons of CO₂. Moreover, these community initiatives present an opportunity to promote new social values, such as resource sufficiency over limitless growth.

Support for Local Communities

The Galician Wind Observatory will continue providing advisory services to local communities. GWO, a think tank at the University of Vigo focused on a fair energy transition, is able to carry out these activities thanks to the support of the Isla Couto Foundation, the Juana de Vega Foundation, and the Paideia Galiza Foundation.