Loyola University and Refractaris sign an agreement to develop and implement research projects on energy transition, sustainable development and climate change

– The university institution and the company will deepen their knowledge of the circular economy.

– The agreement was signed by Antonio María Pino, CEO of Refractaris and Gabriel Pérez Alcalá, Rector of Loyola University. 

Loyola University and Refractaris have signed a collaboration framework agreement to develop and work together on research projects in the field of energy transition, sustainable development and the fight against climate change, with particular attention also to the advancement of the circular economy. 

This framework agreement is in line with the strategic objectives of Loyola and Refractaris, in terms of research, innovation, business, change of energy model and social transformation, and reinforces the activity of both in these areas, as well as expanding their actions in the international arena. 

In fact, Refractaris usually carries out a large part of its projects in international markets where, through its specialised high-temperature engineering, it leads the way in solar thermal development with the design, construction and execution of 90% of the protection shields for solar thermal energy towers around the world. 

Solar thermal leadership

Refractaris has also proposed a new international thermal insulation standard for solar plants for study and approval, which has been approved and processed by the Spanish Standards Association (UNE). A working group has been set up under the direction of the Córdoba-based company, comprising experts from the United States, China, Germany and Spain.

For its part, Loyola University has a growing and notable research activity in areas such as optimisation, supervision and control in distributed systems, such as smartgrids (electrical transport networks) and smartcities, as well as the development of the digitalisation of agriculture, taking steps towards what is known as Intelligent Agriculture. 

University leadership

On the other hand, it has extensive experience in advanced materials and catalysts for the capture of CO2 and its conversion into high added value products, it develops innovative routes for the catalytic conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals, the renewable production of hydrogen and the virtual design of materials for sustainable applications. All this is reflected in numerous scientific publications in internationally prestigious journals.

With this agreement, both will improve their research projects by exchanging the added value of the most prestigious academic environments and business practice, exchanging resources and people and putting them into practice and further developing the circular economy“.