Retecna: Network of Technological Centres in Navarra

Network integrators of Retecna

CENER - National centre of renewable energies

CENER - NATIONAL CENTRE OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES
Avda. Ciudad de la Innovación, 7. 31621 Sarriguren
Tel.: 948 252 800 | Fax: 948 270 774 | E-mail: info@cener.com
Contact: Julia Elizalde - Head of Communication and External Relations

Technology and services offered to companies

The National Centre of Renewable Energies (CENER) is a national technology centre devoted to the research, development and promotion of renewable energies in Spain, working in five main areas: solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, bioclimatic architecture and power and hydrogen electronics. Its modern facilities make the CENER a centre of reference at the European level.

Its cutting-edge work is complemented by state-of-the-art laboratories. It has a thermal collector characterisation laboratory (recognised by the Ministry of Finance to carry out approval and accreditation of solar collectors), a photovoltaic panel characterisation laboratory, a biomass analysis and testing laboratory, a wind turbine certification laboratory and an electronics laboratory.

In these laboratories, and in others which are at the planning stage to complement the above, the centre will carry out its technological and R&D&I development.

The Cener-Ciemat Foundation was created in 2000 by the Government of Navarre, the Ministry of Education and Science and Ciemat as a key tool to use research and technology transfers to achieve the goals set by the European Union for 2010, according to which Spain and the remaining countries in the EU should ensure that renewable energy sources cover at least 12% of the total energy demand in 2010.

In view of the above, CENER’s mission is:

• To foster the level of competitiveness of companies in the renewable energy sector meeting its R&D needs by providing high added value services and activities and technology transfer.
• To foster the development of renewable energies by generating, acquiring and disseminating advanced scientific and technical knowledge, as well as offering support to public institutions in the creation of relevant technical and legal provisions.

The activity and services offered is structured around the following areas:

1. Biomass energy

Services

• Assessment of agricultural and forestry biomass.
• Life Cycle Assessment LCA.
• Characterisation of biomass for liquid biofuels.
• Measurement and characterisation of tars in the gasification of biomass.
• Technical assistance for developers in the design, commissioning and operation of biodiesel plants.
• Technical assistance in gasification and gas scrubbing technologies.
• Technical assistance in bioethanol.
• Alternative energy crops.

R&D

• Assessment of agricultural waste through the production of bioethanol.
• Assessment of residual forestry biomass (BIOSOUTH):
  • Evaluation of available biomass.
  • Analysis of costs and logistics.
• Alternative oil crops to obtain raw materials for biodiesel.

2. Wind Energy

Services

• MEASNET tests:
  • Power curve
  • Energy quality ¡
  • Acoustic noise
  • Mechanical loads
• Monitoring of structural deformations.
• Certification tests.
• Reports for project financing.
• Location assessment:
  • Feasibility studies for wind farms.
  • Evaluation of wind conditions for wind farm design.
  • Wind maps.
• Prediction: Implementation of a real-time energy prediction model, historical simulation and financial simulation.
• Training in wind energy aspects:
  • Master’s degree in EOI.
  • Advanced courses.
  • Highly-specialised courses for post master’s degree students.
• Certification of wind turbines. Agreement with DNV.

R&D

• Development of advanced wind and energy prediction models.
• Climatological analysis in locations without direct measuring.
• Evaluation of fluid dynamic fields in locations with complex terrains.
• Wind turbine design:
  • Structural tests.
  • Aerodynamic tests.
  • Advanced control systems.
• Design of new generation blades.

3. Photovoltaic Solar Energy

Services

• Evaluation of solar resources.
• Design, monitoring and commissioning of photovoltaic facilities.
• Certification of photovoltaic models according to international regulations.
• Technical assistance in the evaluation of PV module prototypes.
• Characterisation of photovoltaic cells.
• Characterisation of photovoltaic materials.
• Improvement of yields in production processes.

R&D

• R&D in photovoltaic inverters.
• Characterisation of modules with concentration.
• Reduction of Si thickness in photovoltaic cells.
• Facilities with sun following systems and low concentrations.
• Development of solar grade Si photovoltaic materials.

4. Bioclimatic Architecture

Services

• Energy evaluation:
  • Development of tools for carrying out energy assessment of buildings.
  • Development of bioclimatic systems and construction solutions.
• Integration of renewables:
  • Advice on integrating renewable energies in buildings.
• Bioclimatic Architecture Conference CIBARQ.

R&D

• Design of medium temperature solar collectors and associated systems for application in refrigeration.
• Project for integrating thermal and photovoltaic solar energy in façades.
• Design of building monitoring systems.
• Design de passive systems to improve the energy performance of architectural claddings:
  • Thermo-façades.
  • Roofs.

5. Power Electronics and Energy Accumulation Laboratory

Services

• Power flux tests:
  • Stable systems.
  • Transitory stability.
• Guidance on the acquisition of electrical, electronic and control equipment.
• Creation and interpretation of electrical, electronic and control systems.
• Study and operational simulation of converters.

R&D

• Design of lightning prediction models.
• Design of lightning protection systems.
• New closed loop control system.
• System for the production of hydrogen using wind energy, accumulation and reconverting it to improve grid penetration.

Quality

• All its laboratories have ISO 17.025 accreditation.
• Integrated Quality Management EFQM.
• Testing Accredited by ENAC for wind and solar energy.
• Testing Accredited by MEASNET for wind energy.

CENER building

Since it is also a question of preaching with our example, the CENER headquarters is a highly energy efficient building, projected with advanced bioclimatic and environmental criteria to achieve major energy savings and have a minimum impact on the environment. Its design, construction system, materials and facilities have made it a reference in the field of Bioclimatic Architecture. It includes wind energy and solar energy sources used both for internal consumption and for research purposes.

The building covers almost 5,000 m2 constructed on a 15,000 m2 plot. It has four laboratories, highly-specialised in different technological areas related to renewable energies, such as wind energy, solar photovoltaic energy and thermal energy, which have successfully passed the accreditation process. In the future, CENER will have two additional testing areas for wind turbines located outside the main building.

The building earned the jury prize at the “Sustainable Building 2005/GBC” international conference, held in late September in Tokyo and the CONSTRUMAT 2005 Best Building Award in Barcelona.

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