Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya

Name

Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya

Legal name

Fundació Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya

Website

https://irec.cat

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Research & Development Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Power Plant EPC (Onshore/Offshore) (EUAEAAAF), Solar PV Power Plant EPC (Utility-Scale) (EUAEAAAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable energy research
• Energy transition consulting
• Renewable technology development
• Battery research services
• Photovoltaic systems research

Headquarters

HQ city

San Adria Del Besòs

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Competitive Research Funding (EU and National): EU Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 project grants; Spanish State Plan for R&D; ACCIÓ Nuclis programme; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-financing; ERC and other European Commission programmes.
2. Industry R&D Contracts and Technology Services: Direct commissioned R&D and testing services to companies (e.g., TTC, RUBI GROUP, Sunplugged, CELSA, Naturgy, Endesa, Anell, TMB/EVARM). Revenue generated through contract research, pilot plant testing, validation, and consulting engagements.
3. Public Institutional Funding: Core institutional funding from the CERCA system, Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya), CIEMAT, IDAE, and other public trustees. Includes recurring support from Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition and Department of Research and Universities.
4. Spin-off Technology Licensing: Technology spin-offs such as Bamboo Energy commercialise IREC-developed AI energy optimisation platforms through SaaS licensing to demand aggregators.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

IREC is a public research centre providing applied energy research, technology development, and testing/validation services across photovoltaics, energy storage (batteries), hydrogen, fuel cells, nanomaterials, power systems, and AI-assisted energy management. It operates specialised R&D&I laboratories (PLEMCAT, PRIMA, BATTECH, DIRECxTE) and delivers commissioned R&D, pilot plant testing, technology transfer, and consortium-based research projects to industrial companies, public administrations, and academic partners.

Product overview

IREC is a public research center within the CERCA system, founded in 2008, dedicated to research, development, innovation, and demonstration in sustainable energy. The organization operates as a multi-platform research institution offering specialized R&D&I labs including PlemCat (marine energy), PRIMA (energy transition experimentation), BATTECH (battery technology, a Joint Research Unit with Eurecat), and DIRECxTE (digital energy technologies). Research is organized across departments covering energy storage, solar materials, power systems, nanoionics, and climate-resilient buildings. IREC also fosters technology transfer through spin-offs like Bamboo Energy (AI-driven energy optimization) and provides testing, validation, and demonstration services to industry and public administrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BATTECH: Joint Research Unit with Eurecat covering R+D+I of next generation of electric cells and batteries for electric mobility, renewables and capital goods markets.
• PLEMCAT
• PRIMA

Products and services

• PLEMCAT (R&D&I Platform in Marine Energies of Catalonia)

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% increase in adaptive photovoltaic system efficiency for Sunplugged's flexible PV products
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RenewPV SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2026Co-organiser of the NEXTGEN (Next Generation High Efficiency Photovoltaics) International School and Workshop, now in its 7th edition (September 2026, Palma de Mallorca), providing a platform for exchange between academia, research, and industry on advanced photovoltaics.
• Eurecat (Centre Tecnològic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIREC and Eurecat formed BATTECH, a Joint Research Unit covering the full R&D+I value chain for next-generation batteries for electric mobility, renewables and capital goods. The alliance combines IREC's materials and cell expertise with Eurecat's industrialisation capabilities. Joint participation in COBRA and MARBEL EU projects and a joint PhD programme (2019-2022) demonstrates integrated capability.
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding trustee and long-standing strategic partner; joint research unit on Solar Powered Systems (Solar powered systems IREC-UPC JRU). UPC is a core trustee of IREC and a key academic partner across multiple research departments and projects.
• CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment research agency and founding trustee of IREC. Collaborates across energy research programmes and institutional initiatives, including advisory councils and national energy policy contributions.
• Government of Catalonia — Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological TransitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrustee and institutional supporter of IREC. The Minister of the department visited PRIMA Platform works in Gurb (May 2025). Key partner for energy policy research, ICAEN collaboration, and Catalan energy transition planning.
• ICAE/ICAEN (Institut Català de l'Energia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalan Energy Institute, a trustee and key institutional partner. Collaborates on energy community platforms (comunitatenergetica.cat), OberCAT observatory, and the Mad for Energy (Bojos per l'Energia) educational programme.
• University of Barcelona (UB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding trustee and academic partner of IREC. Previous Director Joan Ramon Morante was a full professor at UB's Faculty of Physics. Collaborates across multiple research programmes.
• Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding trustee of IREC and partner across energy research initiatives, including Tarragona campus presence.
• ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICREA research professors (Dr Albert Tarancón, Dr Mar Reguant) hold positions at IREC, contributing top-tier research talent to the institute's programmes.
• XRE4S (Energy for Society Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIREC coordinates this network of 39 research groups from Catalan universities, publishing technology portfolios for industry and organising webinars with industrial clusters to bridge academic research and enterprise needs.
• ACER (Associació Catalana d'Entitats de Recerca)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIREC is a member of ACER, the Catalan Association of Research Entities, as part of the broader Catalan research ecosystem.
• CERCA (Centres de Recerca de Catalunya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIREC is a public research centre within the CERCA system, which provides institutional framework, peer review, international selection processes for leadership positions, and overall coordination of Catalonia's research centres.
• International Energy Agency (IEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIREC contributes to multiple IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes including EBC Annex 82 (energy flexibility in buildings), HEV-TCP Task 46 (life-cycle impacts of electric vehicles), and building/heat pumping research initiatives. Dr Jaume Salom co-authored the IEA-EBC paper 'Ten questions concerning energy flexibility in buildings'.
• Bamboo EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationIREC's spin-off created in Barcelona in 2020, commercialising AI-based energy optimisation platform developed at IREC. Bamboo Energy received €375,000 investment from EIT InnoEnergy and IDAE, targeting SaaS market for demand aggregators across Europe.
• CELSA GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish steel company collaborating with IREC on PHOTO-RECIRCUIT project (photovoltaic-integrated recycled steel circuit boards) and the 3Dstore project (3D-printed battery for industrial monitoring).
• Port of BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in the SUPORT consortium led by IREC, developing innovative sustainable maritime fuel production from wastewater and CO₂ at the Port of Barcelona.
• Aigües de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater utility collaborating in SUPORT consortium with IREC on sustainable maritime fuel production process.
• Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis / Euromed Cities NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project leader (€4M, 7 years). IREC is WP leader in this Euro-Mediterranean Green Living Areas Institutional Dialogue project involving 9 European partners across 8 countries.
• University of PatrasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner contributing to green living areas institutional dialogue in the Mediterranean region.
• Polis NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner focusing on sustainable urban transport aspects of green living areas.
• North-West Croatia Regional Energy AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner contributing to energy efficiency and renewable energy community aspects.
• Regional Agency for Infrastructure Development, Building Renovation and Energy of LiguriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner focusing on building renovation and energy efficiency in the Mediterranean context.
• Larnaca and Famagusta Districts Development Agency (Cyprus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner contributing to Mediterranean sustainable development initiatives.
• Lisboa E-Nova – Energy and Environment Agency of LisbonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner contributing to energy-environment policy dialogue.
• Albanian Agency for Energy EfficiencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUCLID project consortium partner bringing South Mediterranean perspective to green living areas dialogue.
• France Energies Marines (FEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOMPASS project coordinator (€5M, 4 years, 14 partners from 8 countries). IREC leads OWF framework for multidimensional evaluation, digital twin modelling and cost analysis within this offshore wind sustainability project.
• Institut MetròpoliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on climate adaptation study for schools (author Mar Satorras), contributing expertise on urban heat and climate resilience.
• UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in climate adaptation study for schools (author Isabel Ruiz-Mallén) and 3Dstore 3D-printed battery project for industrial monitoring.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organisation with energy transition, solar, and battery programmes. Comparable to IREC's mix of public institutional funding, EU consortia participation, and industry R&D contracts.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE): Germany's leading applied research institute for solar energy and a global benchmark for PV R&D, energy-efficient buildings, and hydrogen. Directly comparable to IREC's solar and energy systems research depth, but operates at significantly larger scale and budget.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): US national laboratory dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D, covering solar, wind, storage, hydrogen, and buildings. Comparable to IREC in mission and technology breadth, with much larger scale and a federal funding model.
• CEA-Liten: France's CEA institute dedicated to new energy technologies, covering solar PV, batteries, hydrogen, and power systems with world-class characterisation platforms. Closely comparable to IREC's multi-technology energy portfolio under a public research institute model.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research organisation, with strong energy, materials, and marine energy programmes. Comparable to IREC's mix of fundamental research, applied projects, and platform-based lab infrastructure.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Nordic applied research organisation with major programmes in batteries, hydrogen, solar, and energy systems. Comparable to IREC as a multi-platform energy research institution with strong industry contract and technology transfer revenues.

Direct peers

• Eurecat: Catalan technology centre and IREC's direct partner in BATTECH joint research unit. Closely comparable as a Spanish/Catalan applied research partner competing for similar regional and EU industrial R&D funding.
• CIC energiGUNE: Basque Country energy research centre focused on electrochemical energy storage (batteries) and thermal energy. Directly comparable as a Spanish regional energy research centre with strong BATTECH-style positioning and similar CERCA-equivalent institutional status.
• IMDEA Energía: Madrid-based IMDEA institute for advanced energy studies, focused on solar fuels, hydrogen, batteries, and power systems. Operates the same Spanish regional public research institute model as IREC and competes directly for national and EU funding.
• CIEMAT: Spain's national energy and environmental research centre and an IREC founding trustee. Comparable as a Spanish public energy research institution with overlapping programmes in solar, hydrogen, batteries, and energy systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irec_energia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya