Industrial Ecology and Sustainability Laboratory (IES)

The Industrial Ecology and Sustainability Laboratory (IES) is an international reference in the design of sustainable systems at multiple scales (national, regional and urban) by increasing the natural resources productivity. We develop methodologies, technologies and policies to characterize, model and optimize the productivity of natural resources.

The main contribution is the development and implementation within cooperation projects with industry, utilities, municipalities and governmental agencies of the following outputs:

  • scientific knowledge (journal papers, books);
  • training and pedagogic materials (courses, summer schools, MOOCs);
  • innovative technologies (waste management, energy) ;
  • public policies (policy briefs, roadmaps);
  • open data sources and tools with the community at large (research, citizens).

The activities in the IES Lab are structured in the following domains:

  •  URBAN SYSTEMS, where the focus is on modeling and forecast of urban systems metabolism to support the sustainable management of urban-driven flows and define policies for an urban sustainable management. A multidisciplinary assessment of the urban area is fostered, including impacts of energy and materials use, energy generation within the city, mobility, water, pollution,waste management, land use and food;
  •  SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, where the focus is on the development and modeling and planning of energy systems at multiple scales on short-term (operation and management) and long-term horizons (planning) with the integration of renewable and storage technologies in existing energy systems through smart grid technologies that directly interact with users, like demand response and intelligent energy management systems;
  •  SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, where the focus is to promote a more efficient use of resources, by developing technologies and processes that support the design and implementation of waste management plans and circular economy strategies.