Today, 21st of November 2024, the Catalan Energy Efficiency Cluster (CEEC), the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), the Energy for Society R&D Network (XRE4S), and the Catalan Institute for Energy (ICAEN) hosted a new edition of the Innovation Day Energia at Barcelona Activa’s Technology Park. Over 150 energy professionals, including technicians, experts, and researchers, gathered to explore the latest solutions and trends in sustainable building and energy storage.

Keynotes and panel discussions

The event opened with institutional greetings from Marta Morera (ICAEN), Marta Fonrodona (IREC), and Ramon Gallart (Estabanell), who highlighted the importance of innovative projects and collaborative events like the Innovation Day in advancing Catalonia’s energy transition.

Elena Bou (InnoEnergy) delivered a keynote titled “energy transition, economic growth, and economy: trilemma or opportunity?” She emphasized the need for EU innovation to be commercially viable, reindustrializing Europe while ensuring fair competition, especially in the face of dominant markets like China. Bou also called for new incentives to accompany regulatory efforts in the energy transition.

The panel dedicated to energy storage was moderated by Agustí Chico (Eurecat), and the discussion featured experts from IREC, SENER, and Iberdrola. Key points included the pros and contras of using batteries, green hydrogen or reversible hydropower as solutions to manage energy surpluses. The speakers agreed that “there is no single solution” and that cooperation among different stakeholders is essential to achieve maximum efficiency.

The panel dedicated to sustainable buildings wasmoderated by Esther Izquierdo (WATTEGA), and this session addressed the impact of climate risks and the challenge of retrofitting old buildings with energy efficient technologies. Experts discussed the need for resilient and energy-efficient designs and mentioned the role of Next Generation EU funds in accelerating green solutions.

Parallel innovation forums after each panel showcased cutting-edge technologies on each theme. Regarding energy storage, presentations included solid-state batteries, cost-reducing battery production technologies, and advanced data analytics for efficient battery management. For sustainable buildings, innovations highlighted smart windows, “Living Labs” for testing energy-efficient solutions, and AI platforms for optimizing HVAC systems using renewable energy.

Closing Remarks

Marta Fonrodona emphasized the importance of collaboration across research institutions, businesses, and public entities to achieve impactful innovation. She also stressed the value of events like Innovation Day Energia in fostering synergies that drive the energy transition forward.

The Innovation Day Energia reaffirmed Catalonia’s leadership in developing sustainable and innovative energy solutions, offering a vital space for dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.

The related press-release (in Catalan) can be downloaded here: