- +39 090 64 42 00
- Salita S. Lucia sopra Contesse, 5 - 98126 Messina (ME)
The Institute
The Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano” (ITAE) was founded by the National Research Council in 1980, thanks to the strong will of Prof. Nicola Giordano. The initial name was the Institute for Research on Methods and Chemical Processes for Energy Transformation and Storage.
In 2001, as part of a restructuring of the institution’s scientific network, it assumed its current name. The institute was thereafter entitled to the memory of Prof. Nicola Giordano, a scientist from Messina and a full professor of Industrial Chemistry at the University of Messina, who directed it for sixteen years. Prof. Giordano identified the strategy and research lines on energy that are still characterized by significant development and applications today.
Thematic Areas
Development of heating and cooling technologies powered by renewable sources: solar thermal and low-enthalpy geothermal energy. Technologies for the utilisation of low-temperature thermal waste. Heat pumps. Synthesis, development and characterisation of advanced materials for the transformation and storage of thermal energy. Study of innovative fluids for transporting thermal energy. Development of innovative components and prototypes for the conversion and storage of thermal energy. Materials for energy saving in buildings.
Fuel Cells (Materials, components, prototypes). Electrochemical storage. Next-generation photovoltaics. Process and technology modelling.
Electrochemical conversion of renewable energy into hydrogen and alternative fuels, Electrolysis, Co-electrolysis and Photo-electrolysis. Hydrogen storage systems. Conversion of CO2 to alternative fuels via heterogeneous catalysis. Polymer and catalytic sistems for gas purification.
Transformation of by-products and bioderived products into environmentally friendly energy carriers. Synthetic fuels. Biomass treatment and energy qualification. Power to gas (methanation).
RES and their integration, FC Systems, Electrochemical Storage Systems, Hydrogen Generation and Storage Systems, Energy Management Systems, Hybrid Systems, Smart Building, Vehicle to Grid (V2G), Smart and Micro Grid, Smart Cities and Mobility, Smart District, District Heating and Cooling; Study, development and performance measurement of systems for the conversion, transport and storage of thermal energy in the civil and industrial, stationary and mobile sectors, Planning and management of electrical systems with reference to distributed storage resources, Development of communication and control systems for connected micro-grids, integrating storage and generation from renewables, both on the distribution operator (DSO) and prosumer side, Development of off-grid micro-grids with low environmental impact.
Economic, environmental, and social sustainability of energy technologies. Development of socio-economic models, life cycle impact analysis (Social Life Cycle Assessment, S-LCA), analysis of potential environmental impact (LCA-Life Cycle Assessment) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC- Life Cycle Costing) of energy technologies. Analysis of consumer energy behaviour regarding the acceptance of new energy technologies.
In addition to specific research and development activities, ITAE also carries out transversal activities of technology transfer of research results to industry, training and information, and acts as a support for national and European bodies in the definition of policies and standards in the energy sector.
