The Galician Minister for Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, today urged the Spanish Government from Japan to convene offshore wind auctions and reinforce the electricity transmission network so that the energy generated in Galicia can reach homes and businesses.

Lorenzana met with representatives of the Energy and Environment Division of the Japanese company Orix Corporation, to whom she conveyed the Galician Government’s interest in attracting investment in renewable energy projects such as offshore wind.

Orix Corporation operates in Spain through its subsidiary Elawan Energy, based in Madrid and present in 15 countries across Europe and the Americas, specialising in the entire life cycle of renewables, mainly wind, photovoltaic and hydroelectric.

According to the Minister, Elawan is one of the companies seeking to install three offshore wind farms (495 MW each) off the coasts of Lugo and A Coruña, for which it has already submitted the corresponding projects to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition. “They are fully aware of Galicia’s resources and our industrial potential to complete the value chain of this sector, which is what we aspire to,” she said.

Accompanied by Spain’s ambassador to Japan, Íñigo de Palacio, Lorenzana stressed that the paralysis the Government is imposing on the sector “is counterproductive for attracting new investment projects that can generate wealth in the region.” She reminded that, with a three-year delay, the first offshore wind auction “in which Galicia wants and needs to participate” is still pending.

“Betting on renewables means betting on industrial diversification and on clean, cheaper energy for households and companies, which is the objective of the Galician Government,” she concluded.

Meeting with Fujitsu Limited

On the same day, the Minister also met with representatives of Fujitsu Limited, a company that collaborates with Galicia in the deployment of quantum computing and which, according to Lorenzana, “is interested in the development of different security and defence technologies” in Spain.

The company expressed its interest in learning about the Strategic Initiative on Security, Defence and Aerospace approved by the Xunta de Galicia for the next five years, which foresees the mobilisation of €900 million. “We believe that this strategy could be an opportunity for Fujitsu to develop new technological projects in collaboration with other companies already working on their proposals,” said the Minister.

Lorenzana also explained the Galician Government’s energy policy, aimed at reducing energy costs for companies and strategic sectors wishing to set up in Galicia, and noted Fujitsu’s interest in investing in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity projects for SMEs.