“When the Argentine national team first had Messi, it had the best player in the globe, but the overall results were not up to par. When they put together a solid team, they went on to win the World Cup. It’s the same when a country has a solid, well-balanced energy matrix, as this defines its GDP and the future direction it needs to take,” stated Alberto Molinero, the Engineering Manager at the company’s offices in Seville.

In an interview with Alberto Molinero, the Engineering Manager at Techint Engineering & Construction’s offices in Seville, Spain, we take a deep dive into the current state of renewable energy sources to see how the company is helping to promoting them.

With such a strong push for renewable energy sources, is gas going to disappear?

No, gas is not going to disappear. It still has a key role to play in the energy matrix and this will continue to grow. However, I am a firm defender of renewable energies because the world is changing slowly but steadily, and we have to stay relevant. That’s why our team in Seville, together with the Energy Transition (ET) team led by Hernán Milberg, is working on projects ranging from hydrogen production and wind and solar power, to thermal cycles using gas and biomass.

What engineering projects are you currently working on?

In Argentina, we are working on a biomass project in the province of Corrientes, and we’re at the business development phase for a couple of solar power projects. We’re also evaluating several wind farms. With the transition team, we’re involved in developing methanol which uses green hydrogen as the main vector. And in addition, we’re looking at LNG and NGL projects.

REMARK

Wind and solar power have already demonstrated considerable value in the market. However, the potential of hydrogen production, carbon capture, and other emerging green energy technologies presents exciting opportunities for exploration, learning, and development.

Do you think it’s important for all employees to be trained about renewable energy issues?

I think it’s crucial, as we’re working at an engineering and construction company with a very strong technological component. Now, whatever area of the business you work in, and even if you’re in Human Resources or Finance, you have to be aware of what’s going on around the world in energy matters, and in particular what your company is doing.

In fact, I believe that any employee who is clear about where the Techint Group and Techint E&C are heading, in terms of energy and environmental stewardship, should feel proud of themselves. As a company, and as human beings, I’m convinced that we must try to leave the planet a little better than we found it.

Should a country opt for one or several energy solutions? 

A country shouldn’t be relying predominantly on any one power source, because an energy matrix is a composite, made up of a sum of energies. Actually, it’s like a soccer team: when the Argentine national team first had Messi, it had the best player in the globe, but the team's overall results were not up to par. When they put together a solid team, they went on to win the world championship. It’s the same when a country has a solid, well-balanced energy matrix, as this defines its GDP and the future direction it needs to take. Furthermore, renewable energies simply can’t be the mainstay of an energy matrix at the moment, because they’re cyclical.

Which ones offer the greatest potential for development?

Solar power is incredibly affordable and efficient, but it’s captured in areas that are usually a long way from urban centers. And it’s the same thing with wind. So, you can’t rely entirely on these to supply you with energy.

I believe that the focus should be on carbon capture, as gas is still the main player, and more importantly, feeds both combined and open cycle power stations. Of the conventional energy sources, gas is one of the cleanest, but it does however emit CO₂. If we can capture these carbon emissions, we can have energy that’s relatively affordable—and achieve a significant degree of synergy into the bargain.

As for different technologies, I consider that biomass shows great promise by turning sugar cane, urban waste, and organic matter into energy through combustion. In fact, we’re developing a project in Corrientes using biomass from wood chips.

The Waste-to-Energy (WtE) approach, akin to biomass technology, is gaining popularity in Europe as a sustainable solution for landfill waste treatment.

In this global and diverse scenario, Techint E&C has the expertise to execute any energy project and develop solutions tailored to meet the needs of each customer.

Which countries in each of the regions are the furthest ahead in terms of renewable energy?

In terms of technology, the most advanced country in the world is the United States, and the one with the largest share of solar panel manufacturing is China.

In Europe, Germany has the largest number of solar power installations, as it was one of the first to invest in renewables, whereas Spain is the richest in terms of solar capacity.

In Latin America, the country with the highest commitment to renewables and the energy transition is Chile, mostly through solar thermal and solar photovoltaic energy, while Mexico and Brazil are also investing in the segment. As regards Argentina, where currently articulating a project in financial terms poses challenges, if the economy could be stabilized, I believe that this would open the door to a potentially highly successful renewable and transition energy matrix.

In this sense, Techint E&C stands out as the ace in the deck, capable of making a significant impact through the development of these crucial infrastructures. Ultimately, it boils down to this, to a passion for doing and making a difference.