Tecnalia, UPV/EHU and BC3 join forces to set up an energy planning laboratory in the Basque Country.
The research and technology development centre Tecnalia, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) have opened a pioneering laboratory for energy planning in the Basque Country. The aim of the laboratory will be to develop methodologies and tools to facilitate energy transition strategies for the entire value chain, and to promote the challenges of decarbonisation in the Basque Country. The new laboratory will be presented at the Bizkaia Aretoa as part of the 20th Congress of the Spanish Association for Energy Economics, to be held from 2 to 4 June in Bilbao.
The laboratory, known as the Joint Research Laboratory on Energy Planning (JRL ePLAN), has been set up under an agreement between Tecnalia, UPV/EHU and BC3 to share their knowledge and experience and create an international reference group in applied research in the field of energy planning. Energy planning consists of forecasting future energy needs and identifying the actions that need to be taken to ensure that those needs are met. However, the energy sector has its own peculiarities, as the provision of energy services is conditioned by the suitability of the infrastructure that supports this activity. Therefore, anticipation and the constant updating of forecasts in line with changing realities are key to developing energy planning tools that help government, businesses and society in their decision-making.
Under the scientific management of Tecnalia, the vision of the JRL ePLAN is to become an international reference in applied research in the field of energy planning. Its mission is to bring together and effectively boost existing capabilities to promote joint research on a series of specific topics related to energy planning. In this sense, the ePlan JRL will contribute to training future professionals, researchers and entrepreneurs, fostering the creation and attraction of specialised talent in this field.
The initiative currently boasts 18 researchers, a figure which is expected to grow to a team of 38 professionals by 2027. Another challenge posed by the initiative is training, with plans to have 30 students trained in collaboration also by 2027. Around 15 doctoral theses and 74 co-publications are expected to be produced.
Source: Innobasque
