IKERLAN and JEMA, an Irizar Group company specialising in power electronics, have developed a new generation of energy management systems (EMS) to optimise the operation of large renewable generation and energy storage plants.

Already deployed at two facilities, the solution raises to 50 MW the capacity of plants that can be managed efficiently. This step forward significantly broadens the scope of JEMA’s systems and enables the company to take on larger and more complex renewable projects.

IKERLAN has contributed its expertise in storage technologies, the development of advanced energy management and optimisation algorithms, and the design of robust, scalable hardware and software architectures.

The development responds to the energy sector’s shift towards larger facilities, which need to integrate an increasingly diverse range of renewable resources and intelligently manage large volumes of data in real time. In this context, the collaboration between IKERLAN and JEMA has made it possible to develop a scalable solution that can be adapted to the specific needs of each facility.

The EMS intelligently coordinates the plant’s various generation and storage resources. To do so, it optimises power distribution in real time and ensures a fast response to operating signals, improving the facility’s efficiency, flexibility and ability to interact with the electricity grid.

“This project is a good example of how we transfer our energy management expertise to the market. We started from a specific industrial need and developed technology that enables JEMA to take on more complex projects, access new market opportunities and strengthen its competitiveness”, explains Haizea Gaztañaga, Head of the Energy Storage and Management team at IKERLAN.

Proven experience in EMS

This development builds on the research IKERLAN has been carrying out in the field of advanced energy management systems. The centre is currently involved in initiatives such as RESINET+ (Elkartek 2025-2026), CC-BIDEA (Elkartek 2026-2027), R5DES (Cervera Programme 2026-2028), HAVEN (Horizon Europe 2024-2027) and Co4RES (Horizon Europe 2026-2029). It also has a long track record of projects with companies aimed at facilitating the integration of renewable energy, increasing the resilience of energy systems and developing new tools for the optimisation and intelligent management of infrastructure. This work enables IKERLAN to generate knowledge and technologies that it then transfers to industry through solutions such as the one developed with JEMA.

The solution is already in operation at two renewable generation facilities in Spain.