The 5th SUNER-C Consortium Meeting & Spanish Stakeholder Event, held in Madrid on November 26-27, 2024, was a pivotal gathering for experts and stakeholders in the field of sustainable fuels. This event, co-organized by SUNERGY, the SUNER-C project, the Spanish FOTOFUEL network, and the UK Solar Chemicals Network, brought together researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss the future of clean energy and decarbonization.
Event Highlights
The event kicked off with a series of presentations and discussions focused on policy and industrial perspectives on renewable energy vectors. Keynote speakers included Miriam Bueno Lorenzo from the Spanish Office of Climate Change, who presented the Spanish National Plan for Energy and Climate, and Marcos Escudero Olano from the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, who discussed the Net-Zero Industry Act and its implementation in Spain.
Philippe Schild from the European Commission introduced the Mission Innovation Sunlight-to-X innovation community, while Bert Weckhuysen provided insights into the challenging requirements for a “refinery of the future.” The event also featured an industrial perspective from Maximilian Fleischer of Siemens Energy on the need for green molecules to achieve decarbonization.
Dr Gopakumar presentation: “Clean Energy, Scaled: Innovations in CO2 and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis”
One of the standout presentations was titled “Clean Energy, Scaled: Innovations in CO2 and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis.” This presentation presented the latest advancements in electrocatalysis, a critical technology for converting CO2 and water into valuable fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity.
Future Prospects
The discussions and presentations at the 5th SUNER-C Consortium Meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in driving forward the clean energy agenda. The innovations in CO2 and hydrogen electrocatalysis presented at the event are promising steps toward a sustainable energy future.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, events like these provide a crucial platform for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and building the partnerships necessary to achieve a carbon-neutral future.
For more information on the event and the presentations, you can visit the SUNERGY website