Ingelectus, founded in 2012 by 14 electrical engineering professors from the University of Seville, creates cutting-edge technology for managing electrical networks and balancing energy production, transport and distribution.
The major blackout that paralysed Spain on 28 April will be highlighted once again when taking stock of the events of 2025. Before and after that crisis, the Seville-based company Ingelectus, founded in 2012, continues to move forward thanks to the development of its technology to improve the management of operations that interact in the electricity grid from energy generation, through transport and distribution. ‘The blackout has sparked more interest in what we do, due to the need to strengthen everything that contributes to stabilising Spain’s electricity grid and eDDnergy system,’ explained Daniel Morales Wagner, CEO of Ingelectus, in Correo de Andalucía.
“The major blackout has raised awareness of the system we have in Spain, and decisions and regulatory changes are being considered to update the guarantees for its operation. Renewable energies have also taken on a very important role in transport and distribution networks. And distribution networks need to be monitored more closely, because previously they only had a unidirectional flow, but bidirectional flows have grown. Many distributors are also energy generators, and the growth of self-consumption needs to be better planned. All of this requires greater control of operations and voltages to balance the grid,” explained Daniel Morales.
He added that “it has been taken for granted that the electricity supply is something that never fails, and that it is based on a simple system. This is not the case; it is a fairly complex system. There has to be a constant balance between what is generated and what is consumed. There are different hierarchies involved in controlling it. Red Eléctrica España is mainly responsible for controlling the high-voltage grid, the transmission grid, and can send instructions to major power generation plants, large lines, etc. Then, at a lower level, there are the generation plants. This is where many automatic controls come into play. They must be configured to provide stability to the grid. And then there are the distributors, who also have to control their part of the grid.
Founded by 14 university professors
Ingelectus was created by 14 professors from the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Seville’s Higher Technical School of Engineering, including Professor Antonio Gómez Expósito, who assumed the presidency. With the collective aim of supporting the development of a technology company based on its capacity to generate knowledge and innovation, and being very aware of what is needed in the energy sector and in society. ‘They saw that there was room for a company that could provide digitalisation solutions.’
Daniel Morales Wagner, born in Seville 42 years ago, trained at the same faculty. ‘I learned a lot from professors such as Esther Romero Ramos and José María Maza Ortega. I did my master’s thesis project with them, which was an optimal controller for wind farms. The opportunity arose to develop that controller in depth, and it served as an incentive to set up Ingelectus, where they are also partners, with the aim of creating innovative applications for electrical networks.’
One of Ingelectus’ distinguishing features is that ‘it is electrical engineers who design software for other electrical engineers. We are not a software or telecommunications company that approaches the electrical sector to offer tools; rather, we are members of the sector, with extensive knowledge of its components, who develop tools for its optimisation.’
