Interview with Carlos Granell, CEO of Granell Ingenieros Consultores: “The support from CDTI Innovación and ERDF funds has enabled us to develop a tool tailored to dam hydraulics that is easy to use”:
Granell Ingenieros Consultores is advancing in the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software tool designed to optimize the design and analysis of dams and pumped-storage hydropower plants. This technological solution, supported by CDTI Innovación and co-financed by European ERDF funds, aims to improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of hydraulic infrastructure, while also democratizing access to advanced simulation tools across the ecosystem and aligning with the 2030 Agenda.
Since its founding in 1989, Granell Ingenieros Consultores has operated in a highly strategic and specialized field: the design and analysis of hydraulic infrastructure. The company, led by Carlos Granell, was created with a clear objective: to provide technical expertise in the development of studies and projects related to reservoir dams, a key area both for water management and energy production.
With a team of 12 professionals—two of them specifically dedicated to R&D activities—the company has built a track record based on specialization and technical knowledge. Its services cover dam projects and studies, hydroelectric developments, and water conveyance systems, with a strong presence in the Spanish market (representing 75% of its activity) and a growing international footprint, particularly in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Argentina.
Among its main clients are public bodies such as the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, major energy companies including Iberdrola, Endesa, and Naturgy, as well as international organizations and multinational engineering firms. This combination of technical expertise and market knowledge has allowed the company to advance in areas such as computational fluid dynamics, deepen its digitalization processes, and begin exploring the potential of artificial intelligence as part of its corporate strategy.
In this context, innovation is becoming a key growth driver. The company allocates 7.5% of its turnover to R&D activities, a commitment that is reflected in the development of proprietary technological solutions aimed at addressing current challenges in the hydraulic sector.
The origin of the project to develop a fluid dynamics modeling software for optimizing dams and pumped-storage hydropower plants comes from more than a decade of experience. “We have been using commercial software for 15 years to model complex hydraulic phenomena,” explains Carlos Granell. However, these tools have limitations in terms of adaptation to sector-specific needs, cost, and market dependency.
Against this backdrop, the company decided to develop its own solution. “We aim to obtain a tool specifically designed for dam hydraulics and hydroelectric developments, easy to implement and use, and therefore widely applicable,” he notes. Another key strategic goal is “to insulate or protect ourselves from market fluctuations in this type of software.”
The result is a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics software tool designed specifically for the analysis of complex hydraulic structures. This tool will enhance understanding of hydraulic phenomena and improve the optimal design of critical infrastructure.
In this process, support from CDTI Innovación and European ERDF funds has been decisive. “The funding is allowing us to develop a tool in which we have very high expectations,” says Granell, emphasizing that it is software “specifically adapted to dam hydraulics and hydroelectric developments, as well as being easy to use and implement.”
One of the main contributions of the software is its high degree of specialization. Unlike general-purpose solutions on the market, this tool is designed specifically for dam and hydropower hydraulics, enabling greater accuracy in analysis and better adaptation to engineers’ real needs.
In addition, the software includes an interface designed to be user-friendly for professionals without expertise in fluid dynamics. According to Granell, the goal is to facilitate “access to open-source but highly advanced software for the average user through the creation of a specific interface.”
Another key feature is the optimization of computational resources. The software enables direct parametric adjustments that reduce simulation times and resource consumption, one of the main bottlenecks of current solutions.
The project involves collaboration with the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), a globally recognized institution in the development of advanced numerical methods.
“CIMNE contributes its deep knowledge of the theoretical foundations of these computational codes and its experience in software development,” Granell explains. This collaboration complements the company’s applied profile—focused on market knowledge and client needs—with a strong scientific foundation.
It also enhances the project’s international visibility and strengthens its positioning in scientific and technical forums, acting as a quality endorsement for the solution being developed.
The main challenge of the project has been finding the balance between technical complexity and ease of use. “Essentially, the creation of a numerical simulation tool for complex hydraulic phenomena, specifically for dam hydraulics and hydroelectric developments, simple yet advanced and accessible to the average user,” Granell summarizes.
This approach responds to a clear sector need: democratizing access to advanced simulation tools. Currently, many small and medium-sized engineering firms cannot access commercial CFD solutions due to their high cost and technical complexity, limiting their competitiveness.
The software developed by Granell Ingenieros aims to reverse this situation by offering a more accessible alternative based on the integration of open-source code with specialized functionalities. “The use of this software will make it possible for technical and scientific organizations with limited resources to study and analyze complex hydraulic structures using a next-generation tool,” he emphasizes.
The project is set against a backdrop of growth in the global hydraulic infrastructure market, driven by the need to improve water management, strengthen flood protection, and advance the energy transition.
In this context, pumped-storage hydropower plants play a strategic role as energy storage systems capable of managing surplus production from renewable sources such as solar and wind.
However, as Granell points out, “simulation and optimization technologies have not advanced at the same pace.” The developed software addresses this gap by providing a tool capable of efficiently and accurately simulating hydraulic systems associated with these infrastructures.
It will also enable the analysis of specific phenomena such as hydraulic jumps, spillway discharge capacity, or pressurized conduit behavior, providing a highly specialized solution for sector professionals.
This type of development also aligns with a growing European trend: facilitating access to advanced technologies and strengthening the competitiveness of the business ecosystem, particularly SMEs, thereby contributing to economic and social development.
Looking ahead, advanced simulation tools will play an increasingly important role in the design of hydraulic infrastructure. The growing complexity of these systems, combined with the challenges of climate change and the energy transition, requires more precise, efficient, and sustainable solutions.
In this regard, the software developed by Granell Ingenieros represents a significant step forward. Its ability to improve the simulation and optimization of hydraulic systems will contribute to the design of safer, more efficient, and more environmentally adapted infrastructure.
“Its application will help improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of hydraulic infrastructure management,” Granell concludes, summarizing the potential impact of a tool set to transform how these critical infrastructures are designed and analyzed.
The project is also aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDGs 6, 7, 9, and 13, as it contributes to the development of advanced technological solutions that improve sustainable water management, optimize the efficiency of hydropower infrastructure, and strengthen its role in the energy transition. Through the simulation and precise analysis of complex hydraulic systems, the tool enables the design of safer, more resilient infrastructure adapted to climate change challenges, while also boosting innovation and competitiveness in the sector.
While advancing in the development of this technological solution, the company maintains a growth strategy based on stability and international expansion. Its goals include sustaining annual growth of around 10% in Spain and strengthening its presence in key international markets such as the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
This combination of technical specialization, commitment to innovation, and international vision aims to position Granell Ingenieros strongly to face sector challenges and seize opportunities arising from the transformation of the energy model and sustainable water management.
In a context where innovation is essential to addressing major global challenges, initiatives like this demonstrate how technological development can directly improve efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility in strategic sectors.
Image: Project image of Granell Ingenieros
The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Its mission is to promote technological innovation in the business sector, ensuring that Spanish industry generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable, and inclusive growth. In 2025, under its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, CDTI provided more than €2 billion in support to Spanish companies and startups.
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