Energy Systems and Models for Industrial Applications

Promoting energy efficiency, integration of renewable energy, sustainability and energy transition are the main goals of Energy Systems and Sustainability unit, carrying out national and international projects capable of implementing technological solutions in various sectors.

Our team works every day to increase the competitiveness of the productive sectors, as well as to facilitate compliance with national and international environmental commitments: defined at COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations on climate change.

Energy transition has become a term of reference for the transition to new, cleaner energy sources. It requires a fundamental restructuring of the energy supply system and poses technological challenges.

The EU’s strategy to reform the European electricity market recognises and promotes the right of consumers to generate, sell and share their own electricity. According to European Commission estimation, more than 100 GW of wind and solar energy could be owned by energy communities by 2030.

Digitalisation will play a key role in solutions to address the challenges of decentralisation, flexibility and efficient energy use. Thus, digitalisation can be seen as an enabler for the progressive growth of renewable energies.

In context of the energy transition, hydrogen is seen as an important means of storing energy from renewable sources. Availability of renewable energy is seen as the central challenge for a decarbonised energy supply. In order to have sufficient electricity available even when renewable energy producing equipment cannot supply it due to variable weather conditions, energy storage options are needed. Hydrogen must make a decisive contribution in this respect, being complementary to other storage systems.

Over the last few years, ITCL has accumulated extensive experience and demonstrable results in the study and improvement of energy efficiency in large buildings, industrial production systems and their auxiliary systems.

Frequent collaborations of this research group with industrial and energy companies, as well as in large buildings, are focused on:

– development of specific projects, with R&D components, to design and implement solutions that are not available on the market,

– carrying out energy audits,

– implementation of energy management and efficiency systems.

ITCL currently has specific tools for industrial, energy and residential installations, always with the aim of improving energy efficiency by generating savings in the cost associated with their operation:

– Intelligent systems for supervision and integrated control of energy consumption in large installations.

– SIGE energy management systems. Decision support software.

– Systems for implementation of renewable energies and storage. Energy demand management. Mobility: hydrogen stations, chargers for electric vehicles.

MEMBERS OF THE R&D GROUP

David Gonzalez and Phd Javier Sedano are in charge of the Energy Systems and Models department.

Phd Javier Sedano is the manager of the Energetic Models knowledge unit. He is an expert in the development of electronic devices (hardware) and in industrial control systems, as well as in the design of connectionist models for identification, classification and dynamic systems modelling in Big Data and Blockchain.

David Gonzalez works as a Project Manager of this department. He is the technical responsible for R&D projects in the Energetic Efficiency and Sustainability department. David is an expert in energetic efficiency in both industry and services, energetic audits and ISO50001 implementation, as well as in R&D&I European and National projects.

Javier Gonzalez works as a Project Manager of this department. He is the technical responsible for the development of energetic models in the industry. Javier is an expert in refrigeration installations in industrial environments, development of energetic management systems and in European R&D&I Projects.

Phd Cesar Merino works as a Project Manager of this department. He is the technical responsible for R&D projects in Hidrogen

DEVELOPMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS