Italy-Spain: Mediterranean solar arc project

Madrid celebrated the first ever Spanish-Italian technological innovation and renewable energy days on the 18th-19th September. The most important outcome was the creation of a Mediterranean Solar Arc project, that aims to strengthen the Italian-Spanish axis in the renewable energy sector by raising political awareness and facilitating bilateral agreements. It will also encourage the technological exchange between universities and companies.

Cristina Narbona, Spanish minister for the environment, Pasquale Terracino, Italian ambassador and the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Madrid, Marco Pizzi, inaugurated the meeting by presenting a commemorative plaque to the Spanish company, Fujy Architecture for Nature, who are known for their design of sustainable homes.

Narbona reminded the audience that environmental sustainability is an indicator of progress and that the government supports such progress through recent governmetal measures such as the Technical Construction Code. The minister also reffered to Italy?s recent commitment to defend the environment.

During the ?jornadas? (days) many Italian and Spanish companies that work in the field of renewable energy were able to pool their experiences and establish the bases for future collaboration. Terracino, however, highlighted the importance of common projects not only between Italy and Spain but also with countries from the developing world.

Finally, the meeting served to underline how important it is for companies to cooperate in order to defend the environment and a call was made to create an Italian-Spanish coordinating body to oversee the development of a photovoltaic and wind cluster in Barcelona and Madrid.