According to the latest report published by the OECD, Spain ranks fifth in the world in terms of renewable energy patents, behind the United States, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom.

During the presentation of the Cenit CO2 Project results, Minister of Science and Innovation Cristina Garmendia stated that Spain stands out on an international level, thanks to its technological and scientific potential, and ranks fifth in the number of international renewable energy patents.

The National Strategic Consortium for CO2 Technical Research (CENIT CO2) is one of the projects financed by the Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI). It falls within the technological category of environment and energy. It’s main goal is to research, develop and corroborate new discoveries and integrated solutions that increase the efficiency of processes to cut CO2 emissions. In Spain it promotes industrial research projects that accelerate the development of advanced technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: technologies that could provide a competitive advantage in the future for Spanish industry and companies. The consortium, led by ENDESA Generation, benefits from the important collaboration of UNIÓN FENOSA and the participation of 12 other industrial partners, as well as 16 research institutions. The project will last for four years and has a budget of €20.3 million, of which Endesa contributed €8.4 million.

Among the results of the Cenit CO2 project are two patents in the areas of CO2 capture through microalgae and carbonatation-calcination of biomass to reduce emissions, as well as the first trials in Spain–using Spanish technology–of CO2 capture during combustion (La Robla, León).