What is IREC
all about?
- Public research centre focused on advancing sustainable energy.
- Creating scientific knowledge with real technological impact.
- Driving the energy transition through research and innovation.
- Working with partners to advance the future of clean energy.
Discover IREC
Learn who we are and how our research drives innovation in sustainable energy.
Who we are
IREC is a public research centre within the CERCA system, founded in 2008 and dedicated to research, development, innovation and demonstration in sustainable energy.
Our work spans the full scope of the energy transition, from fundamental science to applied research, with the aim of generating knowledge that is relevant to industry, public administrations and society. Through collaboration with research groups, institutions and companies, we help drive the energy transition and strengthen the role of science in building a cleaner and more resilient future.
Meet our team
Discover the people behind our science, innovation and sustainable energy goals.
What we do
We conduct research, development and innovation across the full spectrum of sustainable energy, from the fundamental properties of new materials to the integration of renewable technologies, from the decarbonisation of industry to the design of more efficient buildings and communities.
Our work connects scientific knowledge with real-world application, supporting the energy transition at every scale: from laboratory to field demonstration, and from solutions relevant to Catalonia and Spain to contributions to the European research agenda.
News
Discover the latest news from our research teams and strategic initiatives.
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IREC assesses the impact of floods on Barcelona’s electricity infrastructure
IREC has developed a planning tool that allows to locate and quantify the risks that flooding can pose to the electricity grid in the Barcelona metropolitan region. The aim is to help public authorities make early decisions on climate adaptation based on scientific data. Over the past three years, the European project ICARIA, led by…
Read more: IREC assesses the impact of floods on Barcelona’s electricity infrastructurePablo Fernández MartÃnez
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Advancing battery recycling and second-life applications
The European project FREE4LIB (Feasible Recovery of critical raw materials through a new circular Ecosystem FOR a Li-Ion Battery cross-value chain in Europe) has officially concluded after four years of research into innovative solutions for more sustainable and circular lithium-ion batteries. Transport accounts for around one quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, making the electrification…
Read more: Advancing battery recycling and second-life applicationsPablo Fernández MartÃnez
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IREC awarded two Joan Oró grants
IREC continues to strengthen its research team with two new Joan Oró grants (FI 2026), awarded by the Catalan Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR). The fellowships are designed to support the recruitment of predoctoral researchers and provide funding for a maximum of four years. Open to PhD candidates at Catalan universities,…
Read more: IREC awarded two Joan Oró grantsPablo Fernández MartÃnez
Events
Stay up to date with IREC conferences, workshops, public consultations and outreach activities.
