On Friday 16 May, the Hon. Ms Sílvia Paneque i Sureda, Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition of the Government of Catalonia, visited the ongoing earthworks of the PRIMA Platform (Experimental Platform to Drive the Energy Transition) in Gurb (Osona), with representatives of the Government, local institutions, and IREC’s executive and project team.

During the visit, the key features of this strategic infrastructure were presented. The PRIMA Platform is led by IREC, with the support of the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition and the Catalan Energy Institute ((ICAEN, Institut Català d’Energia). It is set to become a benchmark facility for the demonstration and validation of clean technologies (CleanTech) under real-world conditions, in areas such as green hydrogen, energy storage, CO₂ and waste valorisation, building energy retrofitting, sustainable mobility, and smart grid technologies.

With six independent yet interoperable pilot plants, PRIMA will provide services to companies and organisations working on innovative energy transition solutions. The pilot plants will cover areas such as green hydrogen and new energy vectors, CO₂ and waste valorisation, building retrofitting, grid digitalisation, sustainable mobility using biomethane and hydrogen, and energy storage and flexibility services. The platform will bridge applied research, technology demonstration and industrial deployment in support of a sustainable, decarbonised economy.

The project is fully aligned with Catalonia’s energy and innovation strategy, as set out in the Catalonia 2050 Energy Outlook (PROENCAT 2050). PRIMA responds to the need for advanced infrastructures to test new solutions that reduce energy consumption, promote renewable sources and help achieve climate neutrality. Support for R&D&I is, in this context, a key pillar for driving sustainable growth and maintaining a competitive edge in clean technologies.

The platform will be located in the La Ronda industrial estate in Gurb, on a site provided by the local council, as part of a shared commitment to innovation and regional development.

The event featured a short technical presentation by IREC Director, Dr Joan Ramon Morante, and included the participation of the Mayor of Gurb, Mr Josep Casassas; Director General for Energy, Ms Marta Morera; ICAEN Director, Ms Anna Camp; and representatives from the Osona Regional Council, the Vic City Council, the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), the BETA Technology Centre, and other local institutions.

The PRIMA Platform has received recognition under the European STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) programme and is among eight strategic projects selected to receive funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), one of the European Union’s structural funds, under the 2021–2027 programming period.

More detailed information can be found in the official press release here: https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-premsa/708323/consellera-paneque-la-plataforma-prima-contribuira-convertir-transicio-energetica-oportunitat-creixement-empreses