EFACEC ENERGIA - MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS ELECTRICOS SA

Their core work

Efacec Energia is a major Portuguese electrical equipment and energy systems manufacturer that brings industrial-scale power electronics, grid integration, and energy management capabilities to EU research projects. They contribute real hardware and systems engineering expertise — from DC grid converters and solid-state transformers to smart energy management platforms — across projects tackling grid modernization, renewable integration, and green hydrogen production. Their role typically involves developing, testing, or deploying power conversion equipment and control systems within larger demonstration and innovation consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Efacec focused on foundational smart grid and energy flexibility topics — platform-based energy services (AnyPLACE), renewable controls integration (INCITE), and telecom infrastructure (SLICENET). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward decarbonization, island energy systems, local energy communities, and green hydrogen, reflecting the broader European energy transition agenda. The appearance of DC grid hardware (TIGON), large-scale electrolysis (GREENH2ATLANTIC), and virtual power plants (IANOS) signals a move from software-oriented participation toward deploying physical energy infrastructure at scale.

Efacec is positioning itself as a hardware and systems partner for large-scale green hydrogen and DC grid infrastructure projects, moving beyond pure research toward industrial deployment.

How they like to work

Efacec consistently joins as a participant rather than leading consortia — zero coordinator roles across 11 projects — which is typical of an industrial partner contributing specific equipment or demonstration sites rather than driving research agendas. With 254 unique partners across 29 countries, they operate in large consortia (Innovation Actions with 10+ partners are their most common format). Their broad partner network suggests they are well-connected and easy to integrate into new consortia, though they are not a hub that anchors repeated partnerships.

Efacec has collaborated with 254 distinct partners across 29 countries, giving them one of the broader networks for a Portuguese industrial participant. Their partnerships span Southern and Western Europe heavily, with connections into Scandinavian and Eastern European research ecosystems through large IA and RIA consortia.

What sets them apart

Efacec is one of the few Portuguese heavy electrical equipment manufacturers active in H2020, bridging the gap between academic energy research and industrial-scale deployment. Their combination of power electronics hardware (converters, transformers), grid management software, and now green hydrogen infrastructure makes them a rare end-to-end energy systems partner from the Iberian Peninsula. For consortium builders, they offer a credible industrial demonstration site in Portugal and real manufacturing capability — not just research input.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GREENH2ATLANTIC
  Their most recent and strategically significant project — a 100 MW green hydrogen facility that positions Efacec in Europe's emerging hydrogen economy with real industrial-scale electrolysis.
• 5GROWTH
  Their largest single EC contribution (EUR 614,375) and an unusual cross-sector move into 5G-enabled vertical industries, showing versatility beyond traditional energy.
• TIGON
  Directly aligns with Efacec's core competence in power electronics, featuring DC/DC converters and solid-state transformers for next-generation hybrid DC grids.