The Catalan Energy Cluster (CEEC) held its final General Assembly of Members for 2024 this morning, bringing together over seventy companies and entities from the energy sector. The event provided a platform to review the cluster’s recent activities, its financial position, and plans for the future. Hosted at Simon’s headquarters in Barcelona, the assembly highlighted the unveiling of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, which outlines the cluster’s roadmap for the coming years, and the 2025 Activities Plan, summarizing the key initiatives undertaken during the past semester.

The session commenced with a welcome address by Joaquim Daura, President of the Catalan Energy Cluster. He shared insights from the 2024 Energy Barometer, which, according to Daura, reflects both the “bright spots and challenges” of the sector’s current landscape. The cluster’s annual opinion survey revealed optimism among companies regarding the current economic climate, with over 70% of respondents rating it as “favorable” despite administrative hurdles and excessive bureaucracy. Daura also highlighted the cluster’s success in the latest call for Innovative Business Groups (AEI), where it secured four new projects, placing it at the forefront nationally in terms of approved initiatives.

The assembly proceeded with the financial report presented by Francesc Ribera, the cluster’s Managing Director. Ribera provided an overview of the anticipated financial results for 2024, noting a slight increase in both revenues and expenditures compared to initial forecasts, driven by heightened activity across all operational areas of the cluster.

Ribera then introduced the 2025 budget proposal, projecting a 5% growth and emphasizing that “we are on an upward trajectory,” even though companies and entities face uncertainties about the sector’s economic evolution. He underscored the pivotal role of the cluster’s services division in the coming year, announcing the launch of an online training platform and further diversification within its project area. This year alone, the cluster has already participated in three European projects through the Erasmus+, LIFE, and Euroclusters programs. Additionally, Ribera stressed the importance of creating new business opportunities through an enhanced sponsorship plan, which he described as a key tool for consolidating and fostering strategic collaborations with industry leaders. The assembly unanimously approved the 2025 budget proposal.

Later in the session, Ribera presented a report on the Activities Plan, reviewing key events and initiatives carried out during the second half of 2024. Highlights included the organization of the 11th Night of Efficiency and the 2024 Innovation Day Energy, both of which set attendance records with 694 and 177 participants, respectively. Ribera also praised other smaller-scale events, such as the CEEC Business Lunch and collaborative seminars with the newspaper ARA, which successfully attracted notable energy sector representatives, including the Minister of Ecological Transition, Silvia Paneque, and the Deputy Director General of Energy Efficiency at the MITERD, Jacobo Llerena.

Regarding its international outreach, Ribera provided an overview of the cluster’s activities over the past six months as part of its energy sector internationalization strategy. He referenced the October study mission to Japan, where the cluster accompanied nine member companies and organizations to explore the country’s innovation ecosystem and identify business opportunities. Additionally, Ribera highlighted the October study mission to China, organized by ACCIÓ under the cluster program, as a significant source of collaboration and exchange with leading ecosystem players.

Looking ahead, Ribera announced upcoming study missions for 2025, including one planned for May-June in Norway. He also emphasized the cluster’s commitment to fostering knowledge transfer and collaboration with key international energy stakeholders, such as the January visit from a Japanese delegation focused on hydrogen technologies.

A New Strategic Roadmap for the Cluster

One of the most significant milestones of the assembly was the presentation of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. This plan, developed through a participatory process involving cluster members, industry stakeholders, and the Catalan Energy Cluster team, with input from the Innovation Agency SDLI and support from ACCIÓ, sets the vision for the cluster’s future. It includes an updated mapping and quantification of the energy sector in Catalonia, which comprises 2,544 companies employing approximately 40,000 individuals. According to the study, these companies generate a total turnover of over €21.47 billion, representing 8.42% of Catalonia’s GDP.

Xavier Lesauvage, head of the Innovation Agency SDLI, led the presentation of the plan, outlining its strategic pillars that will guide the cluster’s activities in the coming years. Key focus areas include energy diversification to achieve independence, decarbonization, digitalization, decentralization, and democratization—foundational elements for an “effective and agile transition” towards a new energy model.