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In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the chairman and Chief Executive of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, says he believes an electricity grid powered entirely with renewable energy is possible through a combination of solar, wind, hydroelectricity and batteries.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview*:

• "When we started 20 years ago, we received a lot of criticism from those investing in coal power plants and mines who said it was the only way to keep the lights on. [...] Now coal power plants are closing [...], gas power plants are in some cases only being used as backup and the lights are on and all the while electricity demand has been increasing".
• "The pressure on politicians to reduce carbon emissions has become greater", especially after the lockdown due to the pandemic, when "people discovered there is another world without smoke, without pollution".
• "The message from the U. S. of the destination being renewables, with coal plant closures by 2035, is very positive".
• "It’s a great moment now because there appear to be less and less enemies. Some of them are becoming competitors or even partners on projects, I think that is great".

* Under subscription only.