IIT celebrates its 40th anniversary analysing the challenges of energy decarbonisation

The Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) at Comillas Pontifical University celebrated its 40th anniversary in style with the presence of national and international people from the energy sector who participated in the conference "Global and National Energy Decarbonization Challenges".

During several round tables, which included the participation of Ernest Moniz, former Secretary of State for Energy under Obama, José Bogas, CEO of Naturgy; Ignacio Sánchez Galán, Executive President of Iberdrola and recent honorary doctorate at Comillas; Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagás and Olvido Moraleda, President of BP Spain, the challenges of the decarbonisation of energy production were discussed and listed. Javier Martínez Ojinaga, CEO of CAF, Marc Murtra, Chairman of Indra and Bernardo Velázquez CEO of Acerinox also shared their vision on the future challenges of research.

All the speakers showed their affection for the IIT and highlighted its importance at international level in research and regulatory aspects, praising the great work it carries out and which makes it a world reference. They also referred to the challenges in energy production and analysed the contribution of research in the energy transition and in the future of the railway, technology, defence and industrial sectors.

For Moniz, who also holds an honorary doctorate from Comillas, the challenge lies in "how we can scale up new energies quickly enough, and pay attention to both cost and social equality so as not to exclude anyone".

The conference also highlighted the different energy situations and needs in different regions of the world. While one of Europe's concerns is to plan a hydrogen distribution network, Africa looks towards universal access to an energy that is lacking in many parts of the continent, as well as the management of the region's abundant natural resources, and Latin America, with a high percentage of renewable energies in some countries, has hydroelectric energy in the spotlight, which is a challenge in the presence of climate change.

Spain also faces challenges to become a net zero carbon economy by 2050. For Manuel García Hernández, Director General for Energy Policy at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the challenges lie in the decentralisation of the energy system, in new technologies, in prices that guarantee investments and in creating a more resilient energy system.

The Rector of Comillas assured that "not only do we celebrate the past, but we also underline our strategic direction, which is none other than to contribute to the needs of society and industry through applied research". In this sense, Antonio Muñoz, director of Comillas ICAI, assured that "in order to advance towards a fairer, more humane and sustainable world, close collaboration is needed between companies, institutions and the university" and, in reference to the IIT, he was happy to have created "a dynamic and enriching work environment that fosters creativity and innovation, which has allowed us to provide new solutions and create knowledge, develop new technologies and train the new generation of professionals who will lead the transformation processes in which we are immersed".

Today, with 175 researchers and more than 3,000 projects, "the IIT is an international benchmark in energy systems and markets, and we are leaders in railway systems and Artificial Intelligence, and we have expanded our research into bioengineering, fluid engineering and Smart management for sustainability. We are therefore ready to face the challenges for the future with the same commitment and determination, and aligned with the university to offer society the best of ourselves," stressed Paloma Cucala, director of the IIT.