Companies and organizations within the energy and energy efficiency sectors continue to express optimism about the economic outlook, both in the present and for the near future. This is one of the key findings of the 2024 Energy Barometer, an opinion survey conducted by the Catalan Energy Cluster. The survey, which targeted over 230 companies and entities in the energy ecosystem, was carried out between November 7 and 29, and covers a range of topics related to the energy transition. These include project approval processes, the state of the energy market, the economic performance of sector organizations, and their investment forecasts in innovation.
A significant 72.7% of surveyed companies and organizations describe the current economic situation of the sector as “good” or “very good.” Looking ahead to 2025, 35% of respondents predict an improvement in the sector’s economy. This positive outlook extends to individual organizations, with 55.8% reporting better economic conditions than the previous year, and 62.3% expecting further improvement in the coming year.
Optimism is also evident in sales projections, with 78% of respondents anticipating increased sales in 2025. Of these, 44.2% forecast growth exceeding 10%. In terms of employment, 58.4% expect to expand their workforce, with 29.8% predicting growth of more than 10%.

Bureaucracy Identified as Primary Barrier to Energy Transition
Despite this optimism, the survey reveals that administrative barriers, particularly excessive bureaucracy, are seen as the greatest obstacle to advancing the energy transition in Catalonia. According to the findings, 26.6% of respondents view slow project approval processes as the most significant challenge to the region’s energy transition. Political management (20%) and regulatory frameworks (10.6%) are also cited as major impediments.
In addition, the survey reflects a critical view of the government’s role in managing the energy transition over the past year. Nearly half of respondents (48%) disapprove of the current administration's performance, while 52% offer a favorable assessment. Regarding the current state of the energy transition in Catalonia, 70.1% describe it as “poor” or “very poor,” citing a decline in investments in self-consumption initiatives as a contributing factor.
In response to these challenges, the survey explores potential measures to accelerate project approvals. The majority (83.1%) of respondents agree that simplifying approval procedures is a “priority” to speed up the deployment of renewable energy projects. Other suggested actions include fostering social awareness (42.9%) and reducing the number of stakeholders involved in approval processes (36.7%).

Battery Storage: A Key Technological Focus for the Future
The 2024 Energy Barometer also examines innovation trends within the sector, with respondents identifying the technologies they believe will shape the future of energy. Battery storage emerges as the most promising technology, with 75.3% of respondents identifying it as having the greatest potential. Other key technologies include artificial intelligence (59.7%), hydrogen (37.6%), and biogas (27.2%).
In terms of investment in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I), 39% of respondents report increased investment over the past year, with 19.5% noting growth of more than 10%. Looking forward to 2025, 41.6% anticipate a rise in R&D&I investment, with 20.8% expecting growth exceeding 10%.

For more information about the 2024 Energy Barometer, you can contact the Catalan Energy Cluster at [email protected] or call +34 633 777 126.