noticia

ilopetegui · December 12, 2025 ·

Driving disruptive solutions to transform CO₂ into renewable fuels

The Basque consortium SINTETIK, coordinated by Tecnalia, has launched an ambitious two-year research project aimed at developing innovative technologies for the production and conversion of renewable synthetic fuels at competitive costs. This initiative involves CIDETEC Surface Engineering, together with UPV/EHU, Petronor Innovación, Polymat, Tekniker and the Basque Energy Cluster, and is supported by the Basque Government’s Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability through the ELKARTEK 2025 programme.

Within the context of climate neutrality, renewable synthetic fuels (e-fuels) are emerging as a key solution for decarbonising sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as steelmaking, the chemical industry or heavy transport. Moreover, they enable the substitution of grey hydrogen with renewable hydrogen and facilitate its transport and storage in a more efficient and safer manner.

The project envisages the development of four laboratory-scale prototypes, based on electrochemical, photocatalytic and thermal plasma technologies, to obtain syngas, methane, methanol and hydrogen in a cleaner and more cost-effective way.

Among the main lines of work are the development of an electrochemical reactor for generating CO and methanol from CO₂ and water; a thermal plasma reactor for the gasification of residual bio-oils; a photocatalytic reactor for producing renewable methane; and an electrified membrane reactor for obtaining hydrogen from ammonia.

CIDETEC is leading the “Electrochemical reactor” activity, focused on researching catalysts, electrodes and their integration into electrochemical cells for converting CO₂ and H₂ into syngas and methanol. This work will help strengthen the scientific and technological positioning of the Basque industry in a strategic field aligned with the Basque Hydrogen Strategy.

ilopetegui · December 5, 2025 ·

The project seeks to develop disruptive solutions in coatings, smart monitoring and eco‑design to improve the efficiency, sustainability and durability of marine infrastructures.

Offshore wind structures are constantly exposed to extreme environmental conditions, which demands increasingly effective protection solutions. To address this reality, systems are used that combine active and passive methods adapted to the materials employed and the specific environment. This need for protection also influences the design and manufacture of blades, which incorporate new materials to improve their efficiency and sustainability. However, major challenges remain in terms of recyclability and structural resistance.

In addition, conventional metallic coatings present significant limitations: they do not exceed 25 years of service life without requiring costly periodic maintenance. They also generate leachates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that pollute both the atmosphere and the marine environment. To prevent galvanic corrosion, sacrificial anodes are used, adding complexity and additional maintenance costs to these infrastructures.

HAIZEEKO “Innovation in new sustainable materials, protection technologies and monitoring for the offshore sector” aims to develop innovative alternative technologies to advance towards more efficient, sustainable and competitive offshore systems, focusing mainly on blades and towers and addressing three technological axes:

Sustainability, through the development of recyclable materials for blades and ceramic corrosion‑protection CX coatings for support structures that ensure the service life demanded by operators.
Energy efficiency, through eco‑design and aerodynamic improvements to blades that can be transferred to real applications, with implicit operational advantages.
Improved durability for blades and structures, aiming at minimal maintenance costs in offshore operation, reinforced by research into disruptive monitoring EA technologies as preventive maintenance.

To achieve these objectives, three lines of research have been defined. The first focuses on advanced protection methods, such as inert ceramic coatings with anti‑icing properties and a new hybrid laser‑and‑induction vitrification technology. The second addresses eco‑design and the use of more sustainable materials, including dynamic 3R epoxy resins and removable adhesives that facilitate repair and recycling. The third line focuses on monitoring systems, with ultrasonic control techniques for ceramic coatings and optimised filtering systems for detection under real service conditions.

The project consortium is formed by: Navacel (coordinator), Argolabe Ingeniería, Mecanizados Ekimen, Global Factor, Innomat Coatings, Innovation Tree, Manutención y Manipulación Eraman, Kera‑Coat and Mandiola Composites. The HAIZEEKO project includes the participation of CIDETEC Surface Engineering and Tecnalia as RVCTI agents, with the collaboration of the BASQUENERGY Cluster.

The project will run for three years (2025–2027) and is funded by the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government (HAZITEK Programme) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

ilopetegui · November 28, 2025 ·

CIDETEC and the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) have formalised a collaboration agreement that recognises CIDETEC as an “ESTU Collaborating Entity” of the Faculty. The purpose of this agreement is to promote practical training for students and to strengthen the ties between academia and technological development.

This signing marks a further step in a collaboration that dates back to the origins of CIDETEC. The centre was founded in 1997 with the aim of developing electrochemical technologies, through the initiative of personnel linked to the Faculty. Since then, joint research projects have been carried out and a strong relationship has been forged, enabling CIDETEC to grow by incorporating PhD graduates trained at the Faculty, complemented by engineering and other specialised profiles to meet market demands. Today, CIDETEC is an international benchmark in energy storage technologies and surface engineering.

“This agreement symbolises the continuation of a relationship that has been key to technological development in the Basque Country. We remain firmly committed to training and knowledge transfer,” stated Javier Rodríguez Parra, General Director of CIDETEC.

Jon Mattin Matxain Beraza, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry at the EHU, added: “Collaboration with CIDETEC strengthens our commitment to employability and innovation, providing our students with unique opportunities to connect with industry.”

Under this agreement, the Faculty of Chemistry commits to promoting and publicising the opportunities offered by CIDETEC to students, facilitating the organisation of joint events, and disseminating the partnership through its official channels. CIDETEC, for its part, will provide economic and material resources, organise visits and training sessions, and guarantee minimum remuneration for interns.

ilopetegui · November 24, 2025 ·

As a CIDETEC spin-off, Emissary follows the center’s strategic mission of bringing the latest technological innovations to market, and this agreement marks a key step in expanding its reach to the French and Swiss personal care sectors.

Emissary, a spin-off of CIDETEC focused on advanced delivery systems for the cosmetics and dermocosmetics industries, has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Actylis to strengthen its presence in the French and Swiss personal care markets.

This partnership marks a key milestone in Emissary’s international expansion and reflects CIDETEC’s broader strategy of creating market-driven initiatives that translate scientific innovation into commercial impact. Through this agreement, Actylis will distribute Emissary’s portfolio of high-performance ingredients across France and Switzerland, enabling greater access to its cutting-edge encapsulation technologies.

Yannick Penanguer, Cosmetics Sales Director Europe at Actylis explains: “We are delighted to welcome a new strategic partner whose expertise in the encapsulation of cosmetic actives within complex structures perfectly complements our portfolio. Together, we aim to push the boundaries of formulation innovation, offering our customers advanced solutions that combine performance, stability and creativity.

“We are excited to begin collaborating with Actylis to access the French and Swiss markets. Our product portfolio is a perfect match for Actily’s “high quality, science-backed ingredients”. From the beginning, there has been a complete connection with the technical and commercial teams, and we believe this will continue for a long time”, says Iraida Loinaz, Head of the Biosurfaces and Biomaterials Unit at CIDETEC Surface Engineering.

ilopetegui · November 21, 2025 ·

The Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) thus joins CIDETEC, until now the sole owner of the company that develops batteries for the aerospace sector.

Madrid, 20 November 2025. LANZO Batteries, a CIDETEC spin-off specialising in the manufacture of batteries for the aerospace sector, has this week formalised the entry of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) into its share capital with a contribution of 800,000 euros. The signing of the capital increase took place at the IDAE headquarters in Madrid, with the participation of Javier Rodríguez Parra, General Director of CIDETEC, and Miguel Rodrigo González, General Director of IDAE.

“The entry of IDAE into LANZO’s capital represents a strong endorsement of our strategic positioning in the European space market”, said Javier Rodríguez Parra, General Director of CIDETEC.

For his part, the General Director of IDAE highlighted that active support for this project in its take-off phase, when spin-offs need it most, “fits fully within the objectives of the Institute’s investment strategy and will also strengthen the national value chain in a highly specialised field with major barriers to entry, enabling Spain to position itself in a relevant manner in the development of space energy-storage technology”.

IDAE’s involvement in this project reflects the strategic importance of the aerospace sector and the significant role played by LANZO as a manufacturer of batteries for space applications within the European landscape. LANZO already has scheduled flights for its first batteries, consolidating its leadership in this technological niche.

Energy Storage

Energy Storage

Surface engenieering