FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA

Their core work

IREC is a Catalan energy research centre specializing in advanced materials for energy conversion and storage — solid oxide fuel cells, next-generation photovoltaics, batteries, and thermoelectric devices. They bridge fundamental materials science (nanoionics, thin films, electrochemistry) with applied energy systems like district heating, smart grids, and building-integrated photovoltaics. Their work spans from lab-scale device fabrication (3D-printed fuel cell stacks, kesterite solar cells) to demonstration-scale deployment in smart city and renewable energy district projects. They are particularly strong at turning materials breakthroughs into functional prototypes for clean energy applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), IREC focused heavily on fundamental materials and device development — solid oxide fuel cells (ULTRA-SOFC, Micro-SOLUTION, Cell3Ditor), photovoltaic materials (kesterite tandems, CIGS), and smart city energy demonstrations (GrowSmarter). From 2019 onward, the centre shifted toward applied clean energy systems with clear industrial pull: electric vehicle batteries (COBRA), floating offshore wind (COREWIND), fast-charging infrastructure, district heating networks, and energy poverty. The keyword data confirms this pivot — early work centered on materials science terms (kesterite, thin film, tandem devices) while recent keywords emphasize systems-level applications (electric vehicle, fast charging, district heating and cooling, LCOE reduction).

IREC is moving from lab-scale energy materials research toward deployment-ready systems for EV batteries, offshore wind, and smart thermal networks — making them increasingly relevant as a technology transfer partner for industry.

How they like to work

IREC operates as a confident project leader, coordinating 14 out of 45 projects (31%) — well above average for a mid-sized research centre. They are comfortable managing large consortia (702 unique partners across 43 countries) while also leading smaller focused research teams in ERC-funded work. Their high partner diversity and geographic spread suggest they are a well-connected hub rather than a closed-network player, making them easy to approach for new collaborations.

IREC has collaborated with 702 unique partners across 43 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected energy research centres in Spain. Their network spans all of Europe with strong Mediterranean ties, plus international cooperation links (e.g., INFINITE-CELL's explicit international scope).

What sets them apart

IREC combines deep materials science expertise (solid-state ionics, thin-film deposition, electrochemistry) with the ability to integrate those materials into working energy devices and systems — a rare combination that lets them take a technology from atomic-scale design to functional prototype. Their CERCA status places them within Catalonia's top-tier research ecosystem with access to shared infrastructure. For consortium builders, IREC brings both the fundamental science credibility to satisfy ERC-level reviewers and the applied engineering capability to deliver demonstrators that industry partners need.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ULTRA-SOFC
  Their largest grant (EUR 1.84M) as coordinator, an ERC Consolidator project pushing solid oxide fuel cells beyond conventional temperature limits toward portable applications.
• COBRA
  Coordinated a EUR 1.2M effort to develop cobalt-free batteries for electric vehicles — directly addressing critical raw material dependency, a top EU strategic priority.
• COREWIND
  Led a consortium on floating offshore wind cost reduction, demonstrating IREC's expansion from lab materials research into large-scale renewable energy deployment.