Instituto de Energía y Materiales

Ecological Transition and Decarbonization

• Develop, analyze, and implement just decarbonization strategies applicable to the local community, the country, and the region.
• Study the potential of renewable energy sources and develop strategies for their efficient integration into the country's energy matrix.

Integrated Planning

• Develop integrated planning tools.
• Create long-term scenarios for the evolution of the energy system and other sectors responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
• Develop scenarios for climate change mitigation or deep decarbonization.
• Analyze specific technologies in the national energy system.
• Evaluate energy and environmental policy instruments.

Energy Use and Conversion

• Promote the use of environmentally and socially low-impact technologies for rational energy utilization.
• Develop physical, chemical, and thermochemical processes for energy transformation with a sustainable focus.
• Evaluate the stages of generation, transmission/transport, distribution, and consumption of various energy resources and develop proposals for efficient operation.

Data Analysis Science

• Develop data analysis science in areas such as energy, natural resources, the environment, land use, among others, for informed decision-making.

Energy Efficiency and Energy Management Systems (EMS)

• Promote and encourage energy utilization from different primary sources based on efficiency criteria, rational consumption, and democratic access, using cutting-edge techniques and technology.
• Evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility as well as the impact of proposed methodologies.
• Develop energy control and management techniques applied at the user and microgrid levels, integrating renewable energy utilization systems.

Circular Engineering and Industrial Symbiosis

• Develop projects and processes based on circular economy concepts, bioeconomy, circular engineering, zero-waste technology, environmentally friendly and state-of-the-art processes.
• Utilize organic waste for the development of materials important in various industrial applications, such as chemistry, food, biomedicine, biotechnology, energy, construction, agro-industry, among others, as well as apply environmental remediation treatments to air, soil, and water resources.
• Recover metals and high-value-added compounds, such as nanocellulose from bran, lignins, dyes, and others, using advanced separation techniques, such as deep eutectic solvents (DES).

Buildings

• Conduct research on "zero emissions," "net-zero energy," and "circular" buildings and infrastructure for sustainable development. This includes structural applications of sustainable materials such as geopolymers, passive building development, and the reuse of prefabricated elements.
• Conduct research on cementitious materials, especially concrete, with the purpose of promoting new technologies in material mixtures with a focus on sustainability and durability. The research spectrum focuses on both micro (basic research) and macro (applied research) scales.

New Materials

• Conduct scientific research, both theoretical and applied, on new materials and their applications in technological, engineering, and industrial areas.
• Promote proper utilization of the country's material resources.
• Develop advanced characterization techniques for structural materials, biomaterials, archaeological materials, among others, using optical and scanning microscopy, mechanical tests, and thermochemical analysis.
• Identify opportunities to utilize marine and terrestrial materials, evaluating their feasibility and applications.
• Develop biomaterials, catalysts, and porous materials from agro-industrial waste and by-products.
• Produce materials from organic sources.

Industrial Processing and Production

• Study the physical and chemical phenomena of matter transformations through mechanical, thermal, or chemical processes at the molecular or macroscopic level.
• Research advanced structural and functional applications of ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites, and develop non-traditional applications of these materials in the region.
• Research technological applications related to manufacturing (including thermal spraying, coatings, welding, casting, additive manufacturing, machining, molding) and investigate material deterioration processes (including corrosion, wear, and failure analysis).
• Develop products and additives for environmental, electronics, food, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, paper and cardboard, adhesives, resins, adsorbents, and industrial applications.
• Develop thermochemical processes, bioprocesses, and biorefining for energy and materials generation with a sustainable focus based on waste utilization.
• Conduct computational simulations to study the effects of processing on material properties and their applications.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

• Conduct environmental impact, sustainability, and circularity studies of energy and material transformation processes.
• Promote the use of low-impact environmental (eco-friendly and advanced) and social technologies in energy and material generation and utilization.
• Promote the use of renewable resources through the application of biorefinery for raw material production, such as biofuels, biofertilizers, biopolymers, biomaterials, among others.
• Research and develop technologies and strategies to improve efficiency in energy production, distribution, and utilization, reducing the carbon footprint.
• Develop and evaluate new materials and manufacturing techniques that reduce environmental impact, such as recyclable, biodegradable, and low-carbon materials.
• Research circular economy models that promote reuse, recycling, and waste reduction in energy and material production.
• Research strategies for sustainable management of critical resources such as water and energy in industrial and urban contexts.
• Conduct life cycle analysis to evaluate the environmental impact of products, technologies, and energy and material systems throughout their lifecycle.
• Develop materials and products from renewable biological resources, such as biomass, and explore applications in various industries.
• Research the production, storage, and applications of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source.

Social Awareness and Gender in Energy

• Alternative Energies
• Properties and Applications of Materials
• Circular Engineering and Industrial Symbiosis
• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials

Previous publications from the institutes preceding the Institute of Energy and Materials.

Publications from the Institute of Materials - IMA

Publications from the Institute of Development of Alternative Energies and Materials - IDEMA

The USFQ Institute of Energy and Materials offers a wide range of services designed to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our tests rigorously adhere to both national and international standards, thus ensuring high-quality results in line with the particular requirements of each project.

Failure Analysis

We specialize in identifying and resolving issues in components, materials, and systems to quickly pinpoint and address the causes of failures, assisting you in optimizing the quality and performance of your products.

• SEM / EDS Analysis
• Fractography
• Surface Roughness Measurement

Mechanical Testing

We conduct tests on materials and components to evaluate their strength, durability, and behavior under various conditions. Whether it's to verify the quality of your products, explore potential improvements, or ensure compliance with specific regulations, our mechanical tests provide the precision and reliability you require.

• Coating Adhesion Testing according to ASTM standards (e.g., ASTM C-633)
• Tensile Testing on polymers, steels, rods, cables, etc.
• Flexural Testing

Materials Characterization

We analyze material properties and chemical composition under various conditions. With this information, you can make informed decisions to enhance the quality and performance of your materials and products.

• Metallography
• SEM / EDS Analysis
• X-ray Analysis
• Grain Size Measurement
• Hardness Testing (HV / HR / HB)
• Photo-spectrometry
• Stress-Strain Testing

Wear Analysis

Our focus is on thoroughly understanding how your materials and components withstand wear and fatigue over time. Through specialized tests, we evaluate the degradation and wear of your products, enabling you to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

• Corrosion Testing
• Erosion Testing
• ASTM G65 Abrasion Testing

Entity Name: Network for Studies on Energy Poverty. Policies, Indicators, Technologies, and Innovations for Mitigation (REPE). Part of CYTED.
Country: Various Latin American Countries
Type of Collaboration: Thematic Network

Entity Name: Framework Cooperation Agreement between USFQ and Empresa Eléctrica Quito
Country: Ecuador
Type of Collaboration: Interinstitutional

Entity Name: Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources (MERNNR)
Country: Ecuador
Type of Collaboration: Interinstitutional

Entity Name: Framework Cooperation Agreement between the University San Francisco de Quito and IKERLAN S.Coop.
Country: Ecuador – Spain
Type of Collaboration: Interinstitutional

Upcoming Events

• Research Congress on Materials and Applications CIMA 2024

Past Events

• Sustainable and Inclusive Decarbonization of the Galápagos Islands 2023 Link: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/en/events/sustainable-and-inclusive-decarbonization-of-the-galapagos-islands 
• Scanning Electron Microscopy Workshop 2023 
• Research Congress on Materials and Applications CIMA 2022 Link: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/en/events/3rd-research-congress-on-materials-and-applications-cima-2022
• Research Congress on Materials and Applications CIMA 2020
• Research Congress on Materials and Applications CIMA 2018 Link: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/en/events/research-congress-on-materials-and-applications-cima