Team & Partners

Together we can can red dwarfs!

IF [as_below] THEN @silbat

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the theory you’ve spoken
Twisted by experiments and rework it without dither,
Or watch the prototype you gave life to, broken, even molten
And stoop and build it up again finer.

If you can fill a forty feet shipping container
With ten megawatt-hours of clean electricity running for one hundred hours
You may help to save the Earth and everything that’s in it
But –for sure– you’ll be in Silbat, mate.

Board of Directors

Prof. Antonio Luque

Co-Founder – CSO

Co-founder of Silbat and its Chief Scientific Officer. Prof. Luque is arguably one of the fathers of modern photovoltaic science and engineering; he remains a professor emeritus at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). He was the founder in 1981 and is the current honorary president of its Institute of Solar Energy (IES-UPM), one of the world’s leading research centres in photovoltaics and the 2nd to be founded worldwide devoted explicitly to solar energy. Multi-prized researcher with +500 publications, he holds 25 patents, having invented the bifacial solar cell (1976), nowadays mainstream PV technology and the intermediate band solar cell (1997). In addition, he has founded several industrial spin-offs, the most successful of which was among the top 10 world PV manufacturers in the first decade of the century.

Ignacio Luque-Heredia, PhD

Co-Founder – CEO

Co-founder of Silbat and its Chief Executive Officer. Ignacio is a seasoned entrepreneur who has founded and led several ventures in the field of renewable energies, proving the ability to drive developments from lab to market successfully. One of his founded ventures was purchased by a leading Silicon Valley green tech company, with Ignacio then becoming CTO of its European branch. He gathers a broad experience in international business development, including technology transfer to and from industrial partners in the US, India, China, and Japan. He has participated in +25 R&D projects, both EU and Spain-funded, in several of them as coordinator. He holds a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid and is a Senior Member of IEEE.

Javier Celma

Director – Baker Hughes

Sr. Vice President Origination at Baker Hughes, Javier is an accomplished, highly seasoned investment professional with more than 18 years of experience in energy, infrastructure, power, renewables, and energy transition. Demonstrated expertise in energy and infrastructure equity, debt origination, underwriting, deal structuring, and portfolio management. Proven management skills through experiences successfully leading various teams of managers and staff specialists. He brings significant international experience from leading transactions in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, UK, Canada, Sweden, Spain, and Switzerland, among others. Javier holds a BA degree in Accounting from Universidad Central de Venezuela and an MBA from Purdue University.

Iván Soto

Director – Soltec

Head of Corporate Venturing at Soltec, Iván is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in startup ecosystem building. He is responsible for identifying and exploring new business opportunities, leveraging his expertise in connecting corporates, entrepreneurs, universities, and public entities. Iván’s career spans several government organizations at national, regional, and local levels. Prior to joining Soltec, he worked for the Scientific Park of the University of Salamanca and for Deusto Business School. Iván holds a MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Complutense University of Madrid and Leeds University and a MA in Journalism from Juan Carlos I University.

Jordi Daunis

Director – EIT InnoEnergy

Jordi is part of the investment team at EIT InnoEnergy, where he contributes to the evaluation, monitoring, and strategic support of startups in the field of energy transition. He has participated in governance processes and decision-making in various companies within the European clean energy ecosystem. His profile combines strategic vision, technological sensitivity, and a strong commitment to innovation as a driver of energy transformation. Jordi holds a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

Javier Bustos

Director – GFM

Managing Director of GFM, with around 20 years of experience in various fields ranging from solar energy and clean fuels to telecom and digital signage. At GFM, besides his P&L responsibility, he oversees product development and the opening of new markets while participating in corporate strategy definition. He is a regular keynote speaker at company and industry events. Despite his managerial role, he enjoys getting involved in the fieldwork of GFM’s UN-sponsored cooperation projects overseas. Javier holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toledo.

Scientific Advisory Board

Fausto Rubio, PhD

High Temperature Engineering

Fausto Rubio is a scientific researcher at the Institute of Ceramic and Glass (CSIC), specializing in high-strength materials, for applications at temperatures exceeding 1200 ºC. After completing a postdoctoral stay at UCLA with Professor John D. Mackenzie, he focused his research on organic-inorganic hybrid materials. His current work includes the study of silicon oxycarbides and silicon carbide ceramics for high-temperature applications, as well as the development of glassy and ceramic materials for energy generation and storage. He obtained his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid.

Iván Fernandez, PhD

Plasma Vapour Deposition

Co-founder and CEO of Nano4Energy and leading company in PVD coating solutions. He holds a PhD in Physics from IMM-CSIC (Spanish National Research Council). From his +20 years of supporting a wide range of scientific projects, Iván has gained broad experience in thin film deposition and its physics. Additionally, he has become one of the world leaders in designing and developing HiPIMS power supplies. He is also a co-founder of two startups, Hip-V and Nanostine. He has ample experience in international business development and technology transfer to large OEMs and end-users.

Prof. Ignacio Rey-Stolle

Thermophotovoltaics

Ignacio Rey-Stolle is a Full Professor at the Institute of Solar Energy of the Technical University of Madrid with +20 yrs. working in PV. His research has focused on III-V multijunction solar cells and thermo-photovoltaic cells, doing material growth by MOVPE, device design, simulation, fabrication, characterization and reliability studies. This work has resulted in several world-record efficiency solar cell devices produced by Prof. Rey-Stolle’s research group. He has been visiting professor at the University of California in Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Ignacio holds a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid.

Eduardo Rodríguez, PhD

Heat Transfer & Fluid Dynamics

Currently, he works as an engineering analyst focused on unconventional mechanical, thermal, and aerodynamic problems within ESTEYCO’s mechanics division. Eduardo is an experienced engineer with a strong background in research projects, collaborating with international institutions across a wide range of industrial sectors, including nuclear energy, fusion research, large scientific facilities, and wind energy, among others. He has expertise in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and turbulence, both experimentally and computationally. Eduardo holds a PhD in experimental fluid mechanics from Imperial College London and is an Aerospace Engineer specialised in Propulsion Systems from the Technical University of Madrid

Engineering Team

Rafael Molinero

Growth and Applications Strategist

Rafael Molinero is directly involved in planning the scale-up of Silbat, researching both early-stage and future applications, and developing its strategic roadmap. His contributions provide valuable insights for product development. Rafael holds a Master’s degree in Photovoltaic Solar Energy and a Bachelor’s degree in Energy Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid, along with completed coursework in Sustainable Systems Engineering from Freiburg University. He brings valuable experience from the Center for Functional Surfaces at Fraunhofer ISE.

Marius Zehender, PhD

Senior Research Scientist – TPV

Marius Zehender focuses on systems research and oversees all scientific challenges related to our development processes, including prototype construction and measurement and control setups. As a specialist in photovoltaic (PV) and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) technologies, he leads the development area in this field, collaborating closely with our partner research centers. Marius holds a PhD and an MSc in Photovoltaic Solar Energy from the Technical University of Madrid, along with a BSc in Physics from Tübingen University.

Rishabh Golchha

Analyst Engineer

Rishabh Golchha is responsible for conducting techno-economic analyses, operational simulations, financial projections, market research, and environmental footprint assessments. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, a Master’s degree in Energy Environment from École Polytechnique in Paris, and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Rishabh brings valuable experience from several greentech companies.

Alejandro Benito

Systems Architect Lead

Alejandro Benito leads the design and development of innovative system architectures that meet project requirements. By collaborating closely with developers and business analysts, he ensures alignment of architectural goals while monitoring project progress to maintain timelines. Alejandro holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Industrial Engineering, both from the Technical University of Madrid, with the latter jointly issued with Université Catholique de Louvain. Additionally, he brings valuable experience in mechanical design projects from several well-known engineering firms in the aerospace sector.

Javier García, PhD

Senior Research Scientist – Silicon & Containment

Javier García is dedicated to researching storage capacity elements, encompassing insulation, silicon, and silicon containment solutions. He oversees the design, operational modeling, testing, and prototype construction of these components. Additionally, Javier manages Silbat’s intellectual property, coordinating with patent agents to ensure effective protection and management of innovations. He has extensive experience in the energy storage sector, particularly in advancing new Li-ion battery designs. Javier holds a Ph.D. in Physics and Materials Science as well as an M.Sc. in Nanophysics and Advanced Materials from Complutense University of Madrid.

Julia Palenzuela

Operations Assistant

Julia Palenzuela is responsible for administrative and planning support at Silbat. She manages the preparation and filing of internal documentation related to technical progress and market research, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Julia also plays a key role in team management and provides support for funding operations and investor relations. She holds an MSc in Media Studies from the University de Salamanca and has pursued PhD studies focused on the Society of Knowledge. Julia brings valuable experience from a SaaS startup in Salamanca and as a film production assistant in California, combining her diverse background to contribute effectively to our team.

Manuel Álvarez-Voykin

Prototyping Support Technician

Manuel Álvarez-Voykin manages Silbat’s test facilities, backing all experiments and prototype construction. Despite his young age, Manuel contributes to automation systems with his recently acquired knowledge. He is also responsible for workplace health and safety, ensuring a safe environment for everyone. Manuel recently graduated from Higher Vocational Education and Training in Automation and Robotics at IES Juan de la Cierva, bringing expertise in PLCs and robotics. He has just started his career at Silbat.

Vahid Safari, PhD

Senior CAE Engineer

Vahid Safari is an engineer who transitioned from studying molecules to mechanics. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Carlos III University of Madrid, where he was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), heat transfer, and high-temperature energy systems, with particular expertise in latent-heat thermal energy storage and phase-change materials. At Silbat, he works on optimising silicon-based energy storage systems, enhancing both their thermal performance and mechanical behaviour through advanced simulation and experimental analysis.

Ignacio Checa

Technical Project Coordinator

Ignacio Checa coordinates the proper interweaving of Silbat’s activity threads—planning resources, anticipating risks, optimising purchasing operations, and overseeing budget preparation—ensuring resources are deployed efficiently, and financial objectives are met with full accountability. Previously, he managed engineering projects in the automotive sector in Madrid, coordinating cross-functional teams directly involved in product modifications. He holds a degree in Materials Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid and an MSc in Mechanical and Automotive Engineering from Poznań University of Technology.

Martín Moreno de Barreda

Silicon & Containment Intern

Martín Moreno de Barreda is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Bath. At Silbat, he supports the silicon and containment team with development work, ranging from embedded systems programming to experimental testing. His involvement bridges academic learning with hands-on research, helping to validate and refine energy storage processes for high-temperature systems.