Spain Chooses Technological “Anything Goes”: Pragmatic Strategy or Dilution of Efforts in the Race to Decarbonize Transport?

At a time when much of Europe is debating whether to focus on massive electrification, Spain has put a different card on the table: technological neutrality. This principle, fiercely defended by its industry at a recent forum in Madrid, is not merely a statement of intent but a strategic positioning. It is presented as the formula for decarbonizing without destroying competitiveness or employment, embracing everything from biofuels and hydrogen to e-fuels and, of course, electric batteries. The bet is clear: close no doors and let efficiency and adaptation to each sector—maritime, aviation, heavy road transport—decide the winner.
This approach, however, goes beyond ecology and touches an economic nerve. Underlying it is a staunch defense of the country’s powerful industrial and energy base. Companies such as Repsol, Enagás, Talgo, and Navantia see in this multiple transition an opportunity to capitalize on their existing capabilities, from refineries to shipyards, repurposing them rather than replacing them. It is a powerful narrative: decarbonization as a driver of investment and added value for the “Spain Brand,” avoiding a traumatic transition that leaves behind assets and know-how.
Concrete examples abound in the debate. For heavy transport, biomethane is presented as a “here and now” solution. For aviation, sustainable fuels (SAF) appear as the only viable medium-term bridge.
At sea, Wärtsilä emphasizes operational efficiency as the first step. And everywhere, hydrogen and its derivatives sound like the long-term promise. Even a fuel cell truck was showcased, demonstrating that zero-emission alternatives are already a tangible reality beyond batteries.
But this multi-path strategy has an indispensable condition, repeated like a mantra by all stakeholders: the urgent need for a stable regulatory framework and clear signals from the government.
The industry demands certainty to invest on a large scale. How will each technology be incentivized? What mandatory blends will be established for renewable fuels? The orderly transition they advocate ultimately depends on politics abandoning ambiguity and outlining a detailed and credible roadmap.
The risk of this technological pragmatism is dispersion. Some critics might argue that betting on everything could slow down the mass adoption of the most efficient solution in each area.
Nevertheless, with this discourse, Spain positions itself as a real-scale laboratory. Its bet suggests that the path to decarbonization will not be a straight line with a single goal but a complex network of intertwined solutions. Success will be measured not only in tons of CO2 avoided but also in whether it manages to turn this complexity into an industrial advantage for the coming decade.