IMDEA Energy’s technologies and projects resonate at Future Utility
The eighth edition of Future Utility 2025, held under the motto “Innovation, digitalization, and new strategies to win over customers and ensure energy supply,” took place on October 16th at the Ilunion Atrium Hotel in Madrid. The event aimed to identify how energy networks (electricity, gas, water, etc.) will evolve in the future; the challenges of integrating sustainable generation, transport, storage, and distribution technologies; their role in decarbonizing the economy and driving the energy transition; and their impact on ensuring supply and offering new services to customers. All of this was analyzed within the context of the regulatory framework, business opportunities, scientific and technical advancements, and digital transformation.
The conference brought together executives and experts from organizations and companies such as Acciona, Alpiq Energía, Canal de Isabel II, Edison Next, Eleia Energía, Enel Green Power, Engie, Eni Plenitude Iberia, Enso Energy Environment and Sustainability, Exolum, Facsa, Ferrovial, Fortia Energía, Galp, Gana Energía, Holaluz, Iberdrola, IQ Energy, Met Energía, Moeve, Naturgy, Nedgia, Niba, Octopus Energy, Quadient, Real Instituto Elcano, Redexis, Repsol, and Total Energies.
IMDEA Energy participated actively, as in previous editions. Félix Marín, Head of Technology Development and Transfer, opened the event with his presentation “Charting the Course of the Energy Transition: Strategies for a Clean Energy Future,” in which he showcased technologies developed by the Institute and ongoing projects. He also moderated the panel “The Energy Pulse of the Future: Geopolitics, Energy Load, and Climate Neutrality,” where, together with speakers from Engie and Eni Plenitude, strategic insights were shared on new energy vectors, artificial intelligence, and the evolution of business models, addressing key questions such as:
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Energy transition amid the national energy mix, slow investments, and growing demand: What strategies are being adopted to balance long-term vision with present-day resilience?
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What countermeasures are companies taking to manage volatility and supply risks?
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Innovative technologies: How can their deployment be accelerated without losing short-term competitiveness? Which technologies are truly worth investing in today?
Patricia Horcajada, IMDEA Energy researcher, takes part in the 27th Solvay Conference on Chemistry in Brussels
Patricia Horcajada, Head of the Advanced Porous Materials Unit at the IMDEA Energy Institute, has attended the 27th Solvay Conference on Chemistry, one of the most prestigious and exclusive scientific meetings worldwide, held in Brussels from 9 to 11 October 2025.
Organized by the International Solvay Institutes for Physics and Chemistry, this conference brings together every few years a select group of leading scientists from around the world to discuss the latest advances and future challenges in modern chemistry. This year’s edition took place at the Hotel Plaza in Brussels, featuring a series of discussion sessions focused on cutting-edge topics in chemical and materials research.
Among the attendees were four Nobel laureates, including Ben Feringa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 for the design and synthesis of molecular machines, and Omar Yaghi, the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, recognized for developing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), porous structures with key technological applications.
Over three days, the six sessions of the conference were moderated by leading experts who introduced each topic with an overarching perspective, followed by short interventions from panelists, fostering an open and multidisciplinary debate.
The Solvay Conferences on Chemistry, first held in 1913 at the initiative of industrialist and philanthropist Ernest Solvay, have historically served as a meeting point for some of the brightest minds in science. Figures such as Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Niels Bohr took part in early editions. Since then, the Solvay Conferences have remained synonymous with scientific excellence and deep reflection on the foundations of science.
Patricia Horcajada’s participation in this prestigious forum represents international recognition of the quality and impact of the research carried out at IMDEA Energy.
More information here
The Materials That Will Shape the Future: IMDEA Energy’s Work with the Metal–Organic Frameworks Recognized by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The recent Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Professors Kitagawa, Robson, and Yaghi for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are a type of porous material with an incredibly versatile structure, capable of storing or separating fluids, capturing pollutants, delivering drugs, or even serving as platforms for clean energy production.
At IMDEA Energy, we actively work with these advanced materials. Our research focuses on key applications for the energy transition, environmental protection, and health. To date, more than 35 novel MOFs, known as IEFs (IMDEA Energy Frameworks), have been designed and synthesized in-house — custom-developed to address specific technological challenges.
This progress has been made possible thanks to a strong network of national and international collaborations, spanning both academia and industry, consolidating IMDEA Energy’s position as a leading center in the development and application of advanced porous materials.
Ten IMDEA Energy researchers stand out among the world’s most influential scientists
Ten researchers from IMDEA Energy have been recognized among the top 2% of the world’s most influential scientists in the 2025 ranking, according to the prestigious World’s Top 2% Scientists list, compiled by Standford University and the academic publisher Elsevier.
The ranking identifies researchers with the highest bibliometric impact worldwide using standardized data on citations, h-index, and other bibliometric indicators extracted from the Scopous database. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields, according to information provided by Elsevier through ICSR lab.
Researchers affiliated with IMDEA Energy featured in this year’s edition include David Serrano (Director, Head of the Thermochemical Processes Unit and Professor at Rey Juan Carlos University); Rebeca Marcilla (Head of the Electrochemical Processes Unit); Patricia Horcajada (Head of the Advanced Porous Materials Unit); Manuel Romero (former Deputy Director); Javier Dufour (Associate Researcher, Head of the Systems Analysis Unit and Professor at Rey Juan Carlos University); Javier Iribarren (Head of the Systems Analysis Unit); Elia Tomás (Head of the Biotechnological Processes Unit); Víctor de la Peña (Head of the Photoactivated Processes Unit); Marc Anderson (former Head of the Electrochemical Processes Unit); and Cristina González (Associate Researcher in the Biotechnological Processes Unit and Professor at the University of Valladolid).
The international recognition highlights the scientific excellence and global leadership of the Institute in key areas for the energy transition and sustainability, consolidating IMDEA Energy as benchmark innovation and knowledge generation in the energy sector worldwide.
Access the full list here
From batteries to oral health: electrochemistry as an ally in the fight against implant infections
A study led by Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and the Electrochemical Processes Unit at IMDEA Energy has shown that the science developed to optimize energy storage and conversion systems can also be applied in the field of healthcare.
Specifically, the team has designed an innovative procedure to eliminate bacteria in dental implants through the combined use of low-intensity electric currents and a conventional desinfectant such as chlorhexidine.
The work, published in Clinical Oral Implants Research, addresses a highly revelant clinical problem: peri-implantitis. This condition affects millions of people with dental implants and is caused by the accumulation of bacterial biofilms that are highly resistant to traditional treatments. These microbial colonies adhere strongly to the titanium surface of implants, limiting the effectiveness of common chemical or mechanical methods.
The researchers’ proposal consists of applying small electric currents directly to the implan surface while simultaneously using an antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine. This phenomenon, known as the bioelectric effect, destabilizes bacterial biofilms and facilitates the penetration of the disinfectant.
The results are very promising: the new method achieved a reduction of more than 96% in bacterial biofilms, even in hard-to-reach areas where conventional treatments are less effective. Moreover, since it relies on low-intensity currents, the procedure is safe and does not cause adverse effects on surrounding tissues.
IMDEA Energy brings together international experts to address the challenges of connecting renewable plants with storage to the grid
On spetember 25, IMDEA Energy held the technical workshop “Conexión a Red de Plantas Renovables con Almacenamiento: Retos y Soluciones” (“Connecting Renewable Plants with Storage to the Grid: Challenges and Solutions”); organized by researchers Milan Prodanovic and Javier Roldán from the Electrical Systems Unit.
The event brought together experts from the institute along with professionals from universities, technology centers, and companies in the energy sector, creating a space for exchanging ideas on the main challenges and opportunities in integrating renewable plants with storage systems into the electrical grid.
The opening session was led by Milan Prodanovic, head of the Electrical Systems Unit. Benjamin Paz (Technical Leader, EPRI) then introduced the operational challenges of renewable plants with storage, followed by a presentation from Luis Badesa (Professor, Polytechnic University of Madrid), who shared experiences from the ancillary services markets in the United Kingdom.
Next, Miguel Ochoa (Global Technical Director, Huawei Digital Power) provided a comprehensive overview of grid connection regulations, while Rafael Mallo (Senior Storage Engineer, Iberdrola) presented operational results from real energy storage projects. Marcos Calvo (R&D Director, Isemaren) discussed the advanced features of Power Plant Controllers (PPCs) for hybrid installations, and finally, Javier Roldán, senior researcher at IMDEA Energía’s Electrical Systems Unit, addressed the role of grid-forming technologies in the evolution of electrical systems.
The presentations highlighted the need to combine scientific knowledge, industrial experience, and appripiate regulatory development to advanced toward a more flexible, efficient, and resilient electrical system.
The workshop concluded with a visit to IMDEA Energy’s Smart Energy Integration Laboratory (SEIL), where participants had the opportunity to see firsthand the institute’s infrastructure and research lines focused on integrating renewable energy with grid-connected storage.
IMDEA Energy celebrates European Researchers’ Night with Renovaland, an interactive journey through clean energy
On friday, September 26, IMDEA Energy opened its doors to celebrate a new edition of the European Researchers’ Night with the activity Renovaland, a space designed for children to discover, through play, how science and clean energy contribute to building a more sustainable future.
During the afternoon, young explorers in the land of clean energy became scientists for a day, participating in workshops and interactive experiences that allowed them to learn by experimenting. In Renovaland, children could do everything from building rockets with recycled materials, competing in solar robot races, and generating electricity by pedaling, to discovering how the electricity grid of the future works, extracting DNA from fruits, or designing objects with 3D printers.
Each activity was designed to spark scientific curiosity and bring renewable energy research closer to everyday life in a practical way. The goal: to show that science is not only fun but also essential for caring the planet.
Families enjoyes a unique afternoon at IMDEA Energy, taking part in scientific activities in a friendly and participatory enviroment.
In addition, this year IMDEA Energy also participated in the activity “Make a Wish to Science”, organized together with the other IMDEA Institutes at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid. There, researcher Jennifer Cueto explained what zeolites are and why they are essential for advancing towar a more sustainable planet, showing which aspects of clean energy research are already present in the market.
IMDEA Energy strengthens its ties with Korean companies and research centres
On 22 September, IMDEA Energy welcomed a delegation of 16 members from Korean entities, including the electricity generation and distribution companies KOMIPO and KEPCO KDN, the environmental, energy and safety management company 4Dream, the telecommunications business association “Telecommunications Technology Association, TTA”, the governmental body of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea “Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, KICOX”, which manages industrial complexes and investments, and the research, testing and certification centre “Korea Testing & Research Institute, KTR”.
The purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities for collaboration in:
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Development and operation programmes of energy self-sufficient industrial complexes jointly promoted by these Korean entities.
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Increasing the share of renewable energy generation planned by Korea.
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Enhancing the competitiveness of ageing industrial complexes.
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Making use of industrial waste and by-products, particularly spent batteries.
Concrete opportunities for scientific and technical cooperation were discussed with the visitors, who valued IMDEA Energy’s technological developments that may be applied in their projects and industrial facilities, such as:
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Technological advances in the grid integration of renewable sources and in energy efficiency.
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Developments in battery reuse and recycling of spent batteries, as well as in the recovery of metals from wastewater.
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The use of heat generated by solar concentration in industrial processes.
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Life cycle assessment studies, process feasibility analyses and prospective studies.
The delegation also visited the Smart Energy Integration Lab (SEIL), whose electrical facilities allow for the testing of alternatives to improve industrial energy management, the solar field, and the construction works of the new hydrogen, storage and solar generation facilities. During the visit, members of the delegation were able to see first-hand how IMDEA Energy collaborates with Korean entities, as they coincided with other Korean participants attending the meeting of the international Hydragon project, in which the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University and the company Samwhan Co. Ltd. are involved.
