1. The energy transition is moving forward at great speed, but it is also facing new challenges. Where do we stand today, and what are the main challenges currently facing the sector?

The energy transition has ceased to be a long-term goal and has become a strategic necessity. The growth of renewable energies, the electrification of transport and industry, and the increasing energy demand driven by digitalisation are transforming the energy system at an unprecedented pace. However, this evolution also raises new challenges related to security of supply, the availability of critical raw materials, and the need for increasingly efficient and sustainable technologies.

In this context, energy storage has become one of the major enablers of the energy transition. It will not only be essential for integrating a higher share of renewable energies, but also for providing flexibility to the electricity system, improving its resilience, and facilitating the decarbonisation of sectors where direct electrification is more complex.

The major challenge now is to accelerate innovation so that new solutions can reach the market more quickly. This requires strengthening collaboration between science, industry and institutions, promoting competitive and sustainable technologies, and investing in research capable of anticipating the needs that will shape the energy system of the next decade.

2. Looking ahead to 2030, which trends do you think will transform the world of energy and storage most significantly?

From now to 2030, we will see a much more electrified, digitalised and interconnected energy system. The deployment of renewable energies will continue to grow, but so will the need for more efficient and sustainable storage solutions adapted to different applications. At the same time, technologies such as artificial intelligence, new materials and advanced computing will accelerate the development of increasingly competitive energy solutions.

In this scenario, the key will not be to rely on a single technology, but on an ecosystem of complementary solutions. Batteries will continue to play a fundamental role, but they will coexist with other storage technologies, such as thermal and long-duration storage, in order to respond to the different needs of the energy system and move towards more efficient and resilient decarbonisation.

3. Is there any technology or trend that is currently receiving less attention but that, in your opinion, could be decisive by 2030?

Although batteries attract much of the attention, there are other technologies that will be equally decisive for the energy transition. One of them is thermal storage, which will play a fundamental role in the decarbonisation of industry, heat management and the efficient integration of renewable energies.

We will also see very significant progress in enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence and digitalisation, which will make it possible to accelerate the discovery of new materials, optimise manufacturing processes and manage increasingly complex energy systems much more efficiently.

Rather than a single disruptive technology, what will make the difference will be the ability to combine different solutions to respond to a wide variety of needs. The future of storage lies in a plural technological approach, in which each solution provides value where it is most efficient.

4. Electrification is increasing the demand for storage solutions. What role will batteries and other storage technologies play in the new energy system?

Energy storage will be one of the pillars of the energy system of the future. As the electrification of transport, industry and buildings increases, and generation from renewable sources grows, we will need solutions capable of storing energy when it is available and supplying it when it is truly needed. Without storage, it will be very difficult to guarantee a stable, flexible and resilient energy system.

In this context, batteries will continue to play a leading role thanks to their versatility and their ability to respond to a wide range of applications, from electric mobility to stationary storage. However, there is no single solution capable of meeting every need. Each application requires specific performance in terms of capacity, duration, cost, safety and sustainability, which means that different storage technologies will coexist.

Indeed, one of the major transformations of the coming years will be the consolidation of an ecosystem of complementary solutions. Alongside batteries, technologies such as thermal storage and long-duration storage will play an increasingly relevant role in decarbonising industrial processes, integrating a higher percentage of renewable energies and building a more efficient, safe and sustainable energy system.

5. In addition to electrochemical storage, thermal storage will be key to decarbonising industry and making better use of renewable energy. What role do you think TESC technologies will play in the energy system of 2030?

Thermal storage is set to play a strategic role in the energy transition, especially in those industrial sectors where heat demand represents a very significant share of energy consumption. While batteries are an excellent solution for storing electricity, thermal storage makes it possible to use and manage heat much more efficiently, helping to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the associated emissions.

In addition, these technologies will facilitate greater integration of renewable energies by making it possible to store surplus energy and use it when needed, both in industrial processes and in heating or cooling networks. This will provide greater flexibility to the energy system and improve its resilience to variations in renewable generation and demand.

Looking ahead to 2030, thermal storage will play an increasingly prominent role as a complement to electrochemical storage. Both will be essential technologies, but they will respond to different needs and, together, will enable progress towards a more efficient, decarbonised and sustainable energy system, capable of adapting to the challenges of an increasingly electrified economy.

6. Europe is promoting greater technological autonomy in strategic areas such as batteries, critical materials and hydrogen. What opportunities does this new scenario open up for European research and industry?

Europe’s commitment to strengthening its technological autonomy represents a major opportunity to consolidate its own innovation and industrial ecosystem around strategic technologies such as batteries, hydrogen and advanced materials. Reducing dependence on external supply chains not only improves competitiveness and resilience, but also promotes the creation of new scientific, industrial and manufacturing capabilities within Europe.

In this context, collaboration between research centres, companies and institutions will be essential to accelerate knowledge transfer and turn innovation into industrial solutions. Europe has great scientific and technological potential; the challenge now is to transform that knowledge into technologies that reach the market, generate economic value and contribute to European leadership in the energy transition.

7. There is increasing talk of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and new materials. How are these technologies changing the way energy solutions are researched and developed?

Artificial intelligence, quantum computing and new materials are accelerating innovation in an unprecedented way. These technologies make it possible to analyse large volumes of data, simulate the behaviour of materials before synthesising them, and optimise research processes that, until recently, required years of experimental work. This translates into faster and more efficient development of solutions for energy storage and management.

However, their true potential lies in the combination of capabilities. The integration of advanced digital tools with scientific knowledge and experimentation will make it possible to discover new materials, design more sustainable technologies and reduce the time needed to take an idea from the laboratory to an industrial application.

8. One of the major challenges remains accelerating knowledge transfer. What is needed for a scientific innovation to reach the market sooner and generate real impact?

Knowledge transfer begins long before a technology reaches the market. It is essential for research to be developed in close collaboration with industry, identifying from the earliest stages what the real needs are and which challenges must be solved for an innovation to have the potential to become an applicable solution.

It is also necessary to reduce the gap between research and technological validation. Having infrastructures, scale-up capabilities and environments in which to demonstrate the performance of a technology under conditions close to real operation makes it possible to minimise risks and accelerate its adoption by companies.

Finally, transfer requires a strong collaborative ecosystem involving research centres, companies, public administrations and investors. Only by combining capabilities will it be possible to transform scientific knowledge into innovations that generate economic, industrial and social impact.

9. The energy transition is not only a technological challenge, but also a talent challenge. What profiles and capabilities will be needed to lead this transformation in the coming years?

The energy transition requires much more than technological advances; it needs people capable of integrating knowledge from different disciplines and working collaboratively. In the coming years, profiles that combine expertise in energy, materials, digitalisation, artificial intelligence or data analysis, together with a vision oriented towards innovation and sustainability, will be particularly valuable.

At the same time, it will be essential to develop capabilities that facilitate knowledge transfer between research and industry. We will need professionals capable of transforming scientific results into viable solutions, understanding both technological challenges and market needs.

Rather than training specialists in a single field, the major challenge will be to attract and develop talent capable of adapting to a constantly evolving environment. The ability to learn, collaborate and anticipate change will be just as important as technical knowledge in order to lead the energy transformation of the next decade.

10. Which research areas do you think will concentrate the greatest scientific effort in the coming years, and which will have the greatest impact on society?

In the coming years, research will focus on developing technologies that make it possible to accelerate decarbonisation and build a more efficient, resilient and sustainable energy system. This will drive progress in areas such as energy storage, new materials, hydrogen, digitalisation and technologies for smart energy management.

We will also see growth in research aimed at reducing dependence on critical raw materials, improving the recyclability of materials and optimising the use of resources. Sustainability will cease to be a complementary objective and will become a design criterion from the earliest stages of technological development.

The greatest social impact will come from those innovations capable of being rapidly transferred to industry and contributing to solving real challenges, such as the integration of renewable energies, the decarbonisation of industry or access to cleaner, safer and more affordable energy. In this sense, research must not only generate knowledge, but also offer solutions with a tangible impact on society.

11. In a context marked by geopolitical uncertainty and international competition, how can Europe maintain its competitiveness in strategic energy technologies?

Europe has extraordinary scientific potential, a solid industrial base and a long track record in innovation, but maintaining its competitiveness will require strengthening its technological autonomy in strategic areas such as batteries, energy storage, hydrogen and advanced materials. In a context of growing international competition and geopolitical uncertainty, it will be essential to reduce dependence on critical supply chains, promote the manufacturing of key technologies within Europe and foster an environment that encourages investment in research, innovation and industrialisation.

At the same time, Europe must continue to invest in collaboration between research centres, companies and institutions in order to accelerate knowledge transfer and turn scientific excellence into solutions with industrial impact. Competitiveness will not depend solely on developing new technologies, but also on the ability to scale them up, bring them to market quickly and build a strong value chain capable of generating employment, strengthening industry and leading the energy transition from a sustainable and strategic perspective.

12. What role does CIC energiGUNE want to play in this scenario, and how does it aim to contribute to the energy transition in the coming years?

At CIC energiGUNE, we want to continue being a key player in the development of the technologies that will make the energy transition possible. Our commitment is to generate excellent scientific knowledge and transform it into solutions that respond to society’s major challenges, driving innovation in electrochemical storage, thermal storage and other strategic energy technologies.

To achieve this, we will continue to strengthen collaboration with companies, research centres and institutions, convinced that today’s challenges can only be addressed through a collaborative and international approach. In addition to developing new technologies, we work to accelerate their validation and transfer, helping to reduce the time needed for innovation to reach the market and generate real impact.

Our goal is to consolidate CIC energiGUNE as an international benchmark in research applied to energy storage, contributing to strengthening industrial competitiveness, promoting a more sustainable economy and moving towards a cleaner, more resilient and more efficient energy system.