David P. Serrano, Director of the IMDEA Energy Institute and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University, took part in the event “Energy Transition and Circular Economy: Necessary, but Are They Possible?”, held on 7 October in the Main Lecture Hall of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).

Serrano addressed one of the main challenges of the energy transition: reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. His presentation focused on an area in which research and technological innovation are essential to developing alternatives with a lower environmental impact, particularly through the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the use of renewable resources and circular feedstocks.

The event brought together leading representatives from the scientific and business communities to discuss the challenges of transitioning towards a more sustainable and circular energy model. Alongside David Serrano, speakers included Teresa Rasero, President of the Spanish Chemical Industry Business Federation (FEIQUE), and Vicente Cortés, Co-founder and Honorary President of INERCO.

The event marked the launch of the activities of the Chair in Circular Economy, a joint initiative of the Complutense University of Madrid and the Regional Government of Madrid, co-directed by Ángeles Blanco, Professor at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences, and Carmen Abril, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies. The Chair aims to foster collaboration between universities, public administrations, the scientific community and industry, promoting the creation and transfer of knowledge in the field of the circular economy.

David Serrano’s participation in this forum highlights IMDEA Energy’s commitment to researching and developing technological solutions for the decarbonisation of hard-to-electrify sectors, such as aviation, as well as to advancing the circular economy and the transition towards a more sustainable energy model.