1. Why is the drone sector becoming such a strategic field also for the energy industry?

The drone sector is becoming a strategic field for the energy industry because its evolution increasingly depends on the ability of batteries to deliver autonomy, lightness and safety. As applications such as logistics, industrial inspection and aerial mobility continue to grow, energy is becoming a key factor.

In addition, drones represent a highly demanding environment where any improvement in batteries or energy management has a direct impact. For this reason, they are also becoming a very interesting space to accelerate new energy storage technologies.

2. Are we entering a stage in which the evolution of drones will depend directly on advances in energy storage?

Yes, clearly. In the coming years, a large part of the sector’s evolution will depend on the ability to develop batteries that are more efficient, lighter, safer and adapted to each application. Energy is becoming one of the main factors that will determine the autonomy, payload and operational viability of many drones.

For this reason, technologies related to new chemistries, fast charging, thermal management and intelligent battery systems will become increasingly important for the growth of the sector.

3. Which applications will truly drive the growth of the sector in the coming years?

The growth of the sector will mainly come from professional and industrial applications where the use of drones provides clear economic value. We are talking about areas such as infrastructure inspection, logistics, precision agriculture, security, emergency response and industrial surveillance.

In addition, in the medium and long term, advanced aerial mobility and eVTOLs may also become one of the major technological drivers of the sector, although there are still significant energy and regulatory challenges to be solved.

4. Why is it still so difficult to increase autonomy without penalising weight, safety or cost?

Because in drones everything is highly interconnected. To increase autonomy, you normally need more energy capacity, but that usually means more weight, and more weight reduces efficiency and limits the performance of the system.

Moreover, the goal is not only to fly for longer. Batteries also need to be safe, support fast charging, operate under demanding conditions and remain cost-competitive. This makes the balance between energy, power, weight and safety one of the major technological challenges for the sector.

5. What challenges arise when we talk about drones that need to operate for hours, charge quickly and work intensively?

When we talk about drones that need to operate intensively, much more demanding energy challenges arise than in conventional applications. It is no longer just about autonomy, but also about ensuring reliability, safety and stability during continuous charge and discharge cycles.

Fast charging, for example, creates significant stress on the battery and increases the challenges related to degradation, temperature and lifetime. In addition, many professional applications need to minimise downtime, which requires the development of systems capable of maintaining high operational performance over long periods.

This is compounded by the fact that drones usually work in complex conditions, with vibrations, temperature changes and high power demands. That is why it is increasingly important to develop integrated solutions that combine the battery, thermal management, electronics and intelligent monitoring.

6. Will the key lie in developing a universal battery or specific solutions for each type of application?

Everything suggests that the future will move more towards specific solutions adapted to each application than towards a universal battery. The energy needs of a logistics drone, an industrial drone or an eVTOL are very different in terms of autonomy, power, weight, safety and usage cycles.

For this reason, differentiation will increasingly lie in the ability to adapt the chemistry, battery design, thermal management and electronics to the specific requirements of each use case.

7. Are we underestimating the energy challenge that the aerial mobility of the future will represent?

Yes, we are probably still underestimating the energy complexity that the aerial mobility of the future will require. Applications such as eVTOLs or intensively operated drones will demand very high levels of autonomy, power, safety, fast charging and reliability, all under strong weight limitations.

Solving this balance will require very significant advances not only in batteries, but also in thermal management, system integration and new energy technologies.

8. What is CIC energiGUNE doing to help develop batteries and energy solutions adapted to the needs of the drone sector?

At CIC energiGUNE, we are working on different lines aimed at developing more efficient, safer energy solutions adapted to the real needs of the drone sector. This includes research into new battery chemistries, fast-charging systems, thermal management, modelling and the validation of technologies under demanding operating conditions.

In addition, we collaborate with companies, manufacturers and other players in the ecosystem to accelerate the transfer of these technologies towards real applications. The objective is to help develop batteries capable of responding to key challenges such as autonomy, safety, fast charging and intensive operation.