This recognition, presented yesterday during the REGIOSTARS Awards ceremony in Brussels, consolidates the Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC) as a European leader in developing sustainable solutions for the energy transition

Migdalia Machín: “The ITC’s Biogreenfinery project reflects how awareness of change, applied to innovative ideas, drives the energy transition, positioning the Canary Islands as a reference for sustainable solutions”

The Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), a public entity attached to the Canary Islands Ministry of Universities, Science, and Innovation, directed by Migdalia Machín, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 REGIOSTARS Award in the category ‘A Green Europe’ for its BIOGREENFINERY project, an innovative experimental plant producing 100% renewable hydrogen for the production of green fuels. The awards ceremony took place yesterday in Brussels, as part of the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities, and was presided over by the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, alongside the President of the Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro.

The CEO of the Canary Islands Institute of Technology, Guayarmina Peña, and the coordinator of the BIOGREENFINERY project’s technical team, Santiago Díaz, were responsible for receiving the award, in a competition that recognizes excellence and innovation in projects funded by EU cohesion funds and significantly contributes to the economic and social development of European regions. In her speech, Guayarmina Peña expressed her satisfaction with this important achievement, which acknowledges the ITC's commitment to accelerating decarbonization. She highlighted that BIOGREENFINERY “is an example of how innovation can drive the green transition in outermost regions like the Canary Islands,” thanks to European funding support, and added that work is already underway “to research new forms of hydrogen storage.”

In this regard, the Canary Islands Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation, and Culture, Migdalia Machín, stated that “this recognition reinforces the value of the work of the Canary Islands Institute of Technology, demonstrating that resource optimization and awareness of change are fundamental to advancing towards a more sustainable energy model. Projects like Biogreenfinery are examples of transformative ideas that, with innovation as a key tool, allow us to face the challenges of decarbonization. I congratulate the ITC team for their commitment to this transition, for providing concrete solutions that position the Canary Islands as a European leader, and for their ability to lead initiatives that promote a more sustainable future for our islands.”

BIOGREENFINERY was awarded for its innovative approach to green hydrogen and synthetic fuel production aimed at transportation sectors where no 100% renewable alternatives currently exist, such as heavy road transport and maritime and air navigation. The plant, launched by the ITC in November 2023 in Pozo Izquierdo (Gran Canaria), serves as a platform for research and validation of new zero-emission fuels, thus contributing to the decarbonization of transport and reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the Archipelago.

This award is not only a recognition of the ITC's leadership in green technologies but also positions the Canary Islands as a reference point for innovation applied to sustainable development. The project has been supported by European funds, specifically through the React-EU program, with an investment of nearly 6 million euros under the “Next Generation EU” instrument, demonstrating that the Canary Islands can lead the energy transition in key sectors such as maritime and land transport.

BIOGREENFINERY: Inspiration and leadership in the green transition

The BIOGREENFINERY project was one of the 5 initiatives awarded out of 262 entries submitted to the 2024 REGIOSTARS Awards, a competition that reached record participation this year. The ITC’s application received the award in the ‘A Green Europe’ category, which recognizes projects that promote the transition to a more ecological and resilient economy. This category is particularly important in the current context of the fight against climate change and the global effort to meet the sustainability goals set by the EU. The other categories, all aligned with the priorities of EU cohesion policy, are ‘A Competitive and Smart Europe,’ ‘A Connected Europe,’ ‘A Social and Inclusive Europe,’ and ‘A Europe Closer to Citizens.’

REGIOSTARS Awards context

The REGIOSTARS Awards are an annual competition organized by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission since 2008. These awards have inspired regions to implement increasingly effective and sustainable policies, aligned with the needs of citizens and global challenges.

See related news: Los premios REGIOSTARS 2024 reconocen a los proyectos financiados por la UE por su impacto e innovación