The Naturgy Foundation and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) have announced the winners of the fourth edition of their ‘Award for Research and Technological Innovation in the Energy Field’. The winning project was NEXTCH4, from the Institute of Sustainable Processes of the University of Valladolid, led by the main researcher Raúl Muñoz Torre. This edition has also incorporated a second prize – new to the call – that has gone to the SMARTSTEP project, of the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology (IMN-CNM-CSIC), led by the main researcher Marisol Martín.
winning project
The winning project proposes the development of advanced bioreactors for the efficient production of biomethane from complex streams, such as synthesis gas from non-biodegradable waste. Its strategy is based on the sequential integration of different technologies previously developed by the group, including two-phase partition bioreactors (TPPB), Taylor flow reactors and U-loop systems, with the aim of improving gas purification and methane conversion efficiency.
Likewise, it aims to progress in the technological maturity of the system until reaching a TRL level 4-5, also incorporating techno-economic and transferability analyses. The jury has highlighted its solid scientific basis, supported by robust preliminary results, and will receive a grant of 100,000 euros that will allow the team to advance in the development and validation of the bioreactors with a view to their future industrial application.
Second prize
For its part, the project recognized with the second prize proposes the development of intelligent self-rechargeable insoles based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) for the geolocation of people with cognitive impairment. The technology is based on a biocompatible, biodegradable and patented polymer, capable of transforming the mechanical energy generated during walking into electricity, thus reducing the dependence on batteries in wearable devices.
With a budget of 30,000 euros, the project will undertake, based on previous results validated in the laboratory, a proof of concept in a relevant environment (TRL 5), including the integration of the system, validation with real users and preparation for its transfer to the market. The jury especially valued its high social impact, its clear market orientation and its strategic alignment with sustainability and the reduction of battery use.
The awards ceremony, led by the environmental journalist and National Environment Prize winner Arturo Larena, brought together the scientific community in the field of energy and was complemented by the informative exhibition “The 5 horizons of innovation at Naturgy.”
The president of the Naturgy Foundation, Rafael Villaseca, highlighted that the award is today a fully consolidated initiative, aimed at strengthening the Spanish scientific ecosystem in collaboration with the country’s main scientific and academic institution. For her part, the president of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino, stressed that the recognized projects demonstrate the capacity of the Spanish scientific system to generate cutting-edge knowledge and transform it into solutions with real impact for society.
Fourth call
The call in this fourth edition has received 26 unpublished proposals, developed by 19 entities including 6 universities, 9 research institutes and 2 non-profit entities, addressing topics of interest such as the application of artificial intelligence, the reduction of emissions, hydrogen, CO2, batteries, photovoltaic energy or methane-biogas. All proposals have been evaluated by a scientific commission, coordinated by the CSIC, and a jury of experts.
Likewise, the event served to present the results of the winning project of the second edition, PRAGMATIC, led by researchers María Retuerto and Álvaro Tolosana from the Institute of Catalysis and Petroleum Chemistry (ICP-CSIC), which has developed advanced materials and components for electrolyzers intended for the production of renewable hydrogen, with new catalysts with a lower iridium content and coatings with greater resistance to corrosion, already validated in larger scale devices.