The eighth edition of Innovation Day Energia has brought together professionals from business, industry, science, finance and public administration in Barcelona to discuss the challenges facing the energy system and explore opportunities to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative energy technologies. Co-organised by IREC, CEEC and XRE4S, with the support of ICAEN, the event has consolidated its position as a key meeting point for Catalonia’s energy innovation ecosystem.

The energy transition is creating new technological opportunities while raising complex challenges, including adapting the electricity grid to a growing share of renewable energy, managing increasing electrification, and meeting the need for flexibility and energy storage. At the same time, turning technological advances into scalable solutions and bringing them to market remains a key priority.

These issues were addressed during sessions examining how new technologies and management models can strengthen the resilience and flexibility of the electricity grid. Experts from IREC, Upcell Alliance and Bamboo Energy, together with Estabanell, discussed the challenges of grid planning and operation in an increasingly electrified energy system with a higher share of renewables. The opening keynote, delivered by olivoENERGY, provided further insight into the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

The event also explored how innovation can be translated into successful businesses and scalable energy solutions. Representatives from BStartup10, Norrsken Hub Barcelona, TetraxAI and Mobile World Capital discussed investment criteria and the financing needs of innovative energy companies. They highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between research organisations, startups, spin-offs, established companies and investors to help promising technologies reach the market.

For the first time, the 2026 edition featured an energy investment forum designed to connect innovative projects with investors specialising in technology, entrepreneurship and venture capital. Six startups, spin-offs and business projects — OXHYD, INDRESMAT, GridWatch, X1 Wind, Biyiud and Plug — presented their solutions to representatives from Mobile World Capital, imec.istart and BStartup10.

The pitches showcased the diversity of innovation across the energy sector, spanning fuel cells and green hydrogen production, advanced materials to improve building energy efficiency, tools to strengthen grid resilience, floating offshore wind, smart city solutions and new applications for renewable energy.

Innovation Day Energia reinforces its role as a meeting point for the stakeholders driving energy innovation. Research provides knowledge and technology; companies contribute industrialisation capabilities and market access; public administration establishes a favourable framework for deployment; and investors provide the resources needed to support growth. By bringing these actors together, the event aims to accelerate knowledge transfer and the deployment of new solutions, contributing to the transformation of the energy system.

A press release was published today in Catalan and Spanish: