What is Prima all about?
- Strategic infrastructure for real-scale validation and demonstration of CleanTech solutions.
- Six interconnected pilot plants covering key technologies for the energy transition.
- Flexible experimenting environment for new solutions, services, regulatory frameworks and business models.
- Open innovation ecosystem helping industry, SMEs startups, research organizations and public authorities.
PRIMA is an Experimentation and Demonstration Platform promoted by IREC and located in Gurb, conceived as a strategic infrastructure designed to foster the development, validation and demonstration of clean technologies (CleanTech) under real operating conditions and at industrial scale. The platform is focused on promoting technologies with proven feasibility and minimal technological risk, facilitating their adaptation to specific applications and market requirements.
Experience
Leveraging more than 15 years of experience from IREC’s laboratories to advance towards industrial validation and the demonstration of new products and solutions under real operating conditions and near-market industrial scale.
Integration
Providing a global and integrated vision of energy systems by considering the interaction between all energy vectors to promote development, testing and demonstration activities.
Projects
Acting as a catalyst for the development of R&D&I projects, promoting collaboration and participation of the industrial ecosystem in large consortia and projects.
Innovation
Implementing a regulatory sandbox in the energy sector to validate new regulatory strategies in a real and controlled environment. Promoting the introduction of new demand management models, distributed resource aggregation, capacity markets and related initiatives.
Collaboration
Promoting 360º collaborative validation by involving the different actors across the value chain, bringing together complementary perspectives and interests.
Formació
Leveraging the availability of a real environment with the presence of unique technologies to support the training and capacity building of professionals.
About PRIMA
Discover the platform, its location and strategic pillars.
Pilot Plants
PRIMA is structured around six specialised pilot plants focused on strategic areas of the energy transition. Together, they form an interconnected platform designed to validate technologies, services and business models with strong deployment potential, responding to needs identified through continuous dialogue with stakeholders across the energy ecosystem.
PP1
Hydrogen systems
Electrolysis and fuel cell technologies, as well as hydrogen storage and distribution technologies, for decarbonisation and the progressive replacement of fossil fuels.
PP2
Distribution network digitalisation & renewable integration
New smart grid integration solutions, as well as technologies aimed at increasing efficiency and durability in different power generation systems, applying Industry 4.0 technologies (Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, etc.).
PP3
Energy storage, flexibility & demand aggregation
Battery technologies for electrical storage before and after the meter, as well as new energy consumption and management products and services. Approximation of sandbox and consumer-driven models, such as proactive consumers and energy communities.
PP4
Sustainable buildings & energy retrofitting
Geothermal generation technologies, heat and aerothermal pumps, district heating and cooling networks. Building rehabilitation technologies focused on energy efficiency, as well as reducing heating, electricity and domestic hot water demand, are key to achieving decarbonisation goals.
PP5
Sustainable mobility
Electric vehicle charging technologies and models (“ultra-fast charging”) and hydrogen (“hydrogen stations”), especially for heavy vehicles, enabling the deployment and viability of sustainable mobility. Availability of a sustainable mobility hub for demonstration operations with different types of public and private fleet vehicles.Electric vehicle charging technologies and models (“ultra-fast charging”) and hydrogen (“hydrogen stations”), especially for heavy vehicles, enabling the deployment and viability of sustainable mobility. Availability of a sustainable mobility hub for demonstration operations with different types of public and private fleet vehicles.
PP6
Bioenergy & energy valorisation of waste & CO₂
Renewable gas generation technologies (biomethane, synthesis gas, biohydrogen) through anaerobic digestion, thermal gasification, carbon dioxide utilisation and new capture and purification technologies for aviation, shipping and heavy machinery. Energy recovery of all types of waste (sludge, forestry residues, agro-food waste, municipal organic fraction, plastics, etc.) to transform them into circular economy system elements.
Contact & visits
Get in touch with the PRIMA team to ask questions, explore collaboration opportunities or request a visit to the pilot plants.
Our Activities & Services
PRIMA offers a strategic portfolio of activities and services to help companies, SMEs, start‑ups, public bodies, research organisations and other stakeholders reduce risk and accelerate innovation. The platform supports testing and validation in real or representative conditions, demonstration of new products and systems, collaborative R&D and innovation projects, regulatory sandbox initiatives, participation in high‑impact consortia, business creation and professional training linked to the energy transition.
Useful links
Access the main resources and pages related to PRIMA, its pilot plants, infrastructures and governance.
Activities & services
Explore the research activities, technical services and capabilities offered by PRIMA.
Projects
Discover the research and innovation projects developed within the PRIMA framework.
Transparency
Access governance documents, policies and institutional information.
PRIMA has been recognised as a strategic European project under STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) and will receive €12.8 million in funding through the FEDER 2021–2027 Operational Programme. The Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica of the Generalitat de Catalunya is the beneficiary of this funding, while IREC acts as the implementing entity of the operation, with an additional €3 million in co‑financing provided by the Institut Català d’Energia (ICAEN).