Project News
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Marine
November 9, 2020
TechOceanS launched to revolutionise ocean observations and measurements
International ocean technology experts from Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are uniting to develop a range of new in-situ sensing, imaging and sampling technologies (e.g. on robot submersibles) that will improve our understanding of the chemistry and biology of the oceans. Funded by a €8.9M grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, TechOceanS – Technologies for Ocean Sensing – will pioneer five new sensors, two imaging systems, a novel sampler and an Artificial Intelligence-driven image processing methodology, all capable of robust operations at depths beyond 2,000 metres. TechOceanS will actively engage with scientists, manufacturers, marine stakeholders and resource managers to target “Essential Ocean Variables” that currently can only be measured by observations from a ship. The new technologies developed in the project will enable the capture of vital, previously inaccessible data on the ocean’s biogeochemistry, biology and ecosystems. The project’s highly interdisciplinary team ensures that the technologies developed will both expand our knowledge of the ocean’s interconnected systems and provide tangible benefits to those industries most directly reliant on them, such as fisheries and aquaculture. The data generated will also support conservation initiatives and provide vital information for policymakers. Professor Matthew Mowlem, TechOceanS Project Coordinator, said “TechOceanS is an ambitious project that has the potential to revolutionise how we measure and monitor our changing oceans. The exciting technology we’re developing will capture important data that will have a significant impact in diverse areas such as ocean conservation, resource management, blue economy and policy.” TechOceanS will deliver an unprecedented acceleration in the diversity and capability of sensors and measurement systems. Technical ambitions for the project include: piloting and demonstrating novel nucleic acid samplers and sensors targeting the genetic code of aquatic organisms to identify them and quantify their populations; improving imaging systems and image processing workflows so that machines can turn vast numbers of images into data about species, habitats and plastic pollution; producing optical primary productivity (plant growth) and multiparameter optical sensors to measure energy entering the base of the food web and to investigate water quality ; and creating biogeochemical and bio-assay enabled lab-on-chip sensors and microcytometers to measure a large number of parameters including: nutrients, carbon dioxide, trace metals, bio-toxins, pollutants, single celled organisms and microplastics. The future impact of these valuable technologies relies on their accessibility. Therefore, TechOceanS technology pilots will be low-cost and place minimal demands on existing infrastructure, allowing them to be made available for use by all countries regardless of resources. In addition to expanding scientific knowledge of the ocean, TechOceanS will focus on improving “ocean best practices” by working closely with the IOC-UNESCO to develop training and standards covering metrology and operation of measurement systems in addition to the application of management principles, standards, protocols and communications for open access data. In this way, the project will ensure the developed best practices are truly global, inclusive and transparent. Through the targeted technologies, diverse partner base and cooperation with concurrent projects, TechOceanS will contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge, the transfer of marine technology and other key components of the Blue Economy as described in international accords such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Working Group, the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Dr Patricia López-García, one of the TechOceanS project managers, said “In addition to the work carried out within the project, TechOceanS will form mutually beneficial links with a number of other projects over its lifetime, such as Nautilos, EuroSEA, Blue-Cloud, iAtlantic, AtlantECO, Euro-Argo ERIC, MISSION ATLANTIC and others. Through these synergies, we are excited to contribute to a brighter future for our world’s seas.” The TechOceanS launch meeting will be held on Tuesday 10 November 2020. The first priorities for the project will include targeting key enabling innovations and establishing cross-cutting research activities to accelerate the development of targeted technologies and forming plans with target dates for their testing demonstration and roll out. For more information, follow @TechOceanS on Twitter, join the LinkedIn group TechOceanS and (from December 2020) check out the project website at www.techoceans.eu. TechOceanS (“Technologies for Ocean Sensing”) is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant No. 101000858. The project will run for four years from 2020 to 2024, with a total budget of €8.9 million. The multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary TechOceanS team represents leading organisations in ocean science, technology, policy and industry in Europe. The project is coordinated by the National Oceanographic Centre (NOC) in the UK. The 13 European partners represent a total of 8 countries: Cyprus (Cyprus Subsea Consulting and Service), France (SU), Germany (AWI, GEOMAR), Greece (Idryma Technologies), Ireland (DCU, Intrigo, AquaTT), Italy (SZN), Spain (PLOCAN) and the United Kingdom (NOC, UoS, Chelsea Technologies). ERINN Innovation is leading Work Package 12 From Innovation to Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation to Impact and is participating in Work Package 2 Dissemination, Communication, IP Protection and Stakeholder Engagement, Work Package 7 Data and Knowledge Management.
- Project News
- Innovation and Knowledge
- Marine
October 23, 2020
Water JPI Knowledge Hub on CEC outputs released
The protection of our environment and natural resources is very important in today’s society. A major focus is on climate change, mitigation and adaptation – a core issue of which is the availability, quantity and quality of our water resources. However, millions of people who receive high quality safe drinking water every day are at risk from, amongst other factors, animal and human wastes, pesticides, emerging contaminants, risks from “established” contaminants, aged water supply infrastructures, and sub-optimal water management. Ever more chemical constituents are used in modern society – population growth has fuelled the use of sanitary, household and personal care products, advanced medicines and therapies, and intensified food production. Over 4000 new substances are being added daily to the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) alone. In particular, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), contaminants which are not commonly monitored but are suspected to have adverse ecological and human health effects, can end up in wastewater by application and use. Existing water treatment plants do not remove all CECs from wastewater, and can change the chemical structures of others, which are then released into the environment. A substantial step forward is required to revise current legislation, which should introduce proactive measures to account for these escalating contaminants and ensure a sustainable water cycle with water suitable for reuse, for the benefit of the environment and for water users. Leading national experts have been brought together by the Water Joint Programming Initiative (Water JPI) to collaborate in a Knowledge Hub focused on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (KHCEC). The KHCEC seeks to “address knowledge gaps as well as to consolidate knowledge regarding the behaviour of emerging contaminants in the environment…..and their long-term impact on the health and lives of ecosystems and citizens”. To that end, the hub has just published a “Stakeholder Brief” providing an overview of current knowledge of CECs, detection methods and treatment options, with key messages to address these issues going forward. It is hoped that the brief will stimulate debate among water stakeholders and encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration to bring about change. In addition to the brief, the hub will release infographics via social media channels in the coming weeks to invite conversations with citizens on the issue. “It is crucial to act as a knowledge broker in order to tackle this challenge, informing policymakers and other stakeholders of the latest science-based findings, including new knowledge and innovations” said Dominique Darmendrail, Water JPI Coordinator from the French Research Funding Agency, ANR. As the KHCEC work progresses into its next phase, this newly developed resource and the latest updates from the group are available on the Water JPI website (www.waterjpi.eu/implementation/thematic-activities/water-jpi-knowledge-hub-1/water-jpi-knowledge-hub-on-contaminants-of-emerging-concern). For more information, please visit the Water JPI website (www.waterjpi.eu), the Water JPI twitter page (@WaterJPI). ERINN Innovation was involved in the work of the KHCEC as facilitator to support the Seed Group and the Scientific Coordinator, and ensure the KHCEC’s objectives were reached.
- Project News
- Marine
October 23, 2020
IATiP innovation interviews now live
The Irish Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (IATiP) is an active, multi-stakeholder platform that facilitates the exchange of information, supports knowledge transfer and stimulates collective action within the Irish aquaculture sector. It is intended that the platform will facilitate sustainable development, assure conditions for growth and promote innovation within the industry. IATiP acts as the Irish ‘Mirror Platform’ of the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP). They have recently launched a series of online interviews with researchers and experts in the aquaculture industry. The interviews can all be viewed here: https://iatip.ie/resources/interviews/ ERINN Innovation are supporting the IATiP Secretariat and manage the website.
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Marine
September 28, 2020
Mission Atlantic project launched to map and assess sustainable development of the Atlantic Ocean
International ocean experts from Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Canada and the USA have joined forces to map and assess the current and future risks from climate change, natural hazards and human activities to Atlantic ecosystems. Funded by a €11.5M grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, MISSION ATLANTIC will be the first initiative to develop and systematically apply Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) at Atlantic basin scale. This unique IEA approach engages scientists, marine stakeholders, and resource managers, integrating all components of the ecosystem, including human activity, into the decision-making process. In this way, managers and policy makers informed by science, can balance the need for environmental protection with secure, sustainable development, thereby ensuring a positive future for the Atlantic Ocean and its peoples. Patrizio Mariani, MISSION ATLANTIC Project Coordinator, said “In an era of rapid transformations affecting our societies and our lives, we are asked to provide the scientific knowledge necessary to face future challenges and to guarantee a sustainable future for the next generations. By studying the complex Atlantic Ocean ecosystems, MISSION ATLANTIC will contribute to a better and more sustainable future for life on Earth.” Using high-resolution ocean models, artificial neural networks, risk assessment methods and advanced statistical approaches, MISSION ATLANTIC will accurately assess pressures imposed on Atlantic marine ecosystems, identifying the parts most at risk from natural hazards and the consequences of human activities. The team will combine existing data from global ocean monitoring programmes with new observations collected using advanced marine robots and acoustic sensors. A truly multidisciplinary approach, these tools will be used to explore plankton and fish distribution in unknown waters, including sub-Arctic and Tropical regions in the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to expanding scientific knowledge of the Atlantic Ocean, MISSION ATLANTIC will focus on improving education and professional development opportunities in countries bordering the North, South and Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Regional stakeholder platforms will act as “science to governance” interfaces in these areas, enabling local communities to engage with their representatives and stimulate effective policies. Through co-creation of management recommendations, MISSION ATLANTIC, will contribute to the commitments outlined in the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation between the European Union, Brazil and South Africa, and as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030), supporting society in achieving a sustainable ocean. Michael St. John, MISSION ATLANTIC Policy lead and Belém Panel Chair, said “In support of the Belém statement, MISSION ATLANTIC will be a catalyst in linking research activities in the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean with those in the North Atlantic. It will identify and strengthen synergies between the Atlantic Research Agenda, AIR Centre; Joint Programming Initiatives, as well as the Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation, the European Union’s Earth Observation and Monitoring programme – Copernicus, and the Benguela Current Commission. Through its activities, MISSION ATLANTIC will optimise the use and sharing of research infrastructures and, via the development of state-of-the-art data methodologies, enhance access to and management of data on the stressors and services provided by Atlantic ecosystems. Finally, and critically, the project will provide the knowledge and tools necessary to sustainably manage Atlantic ecosystem services as they are impacted upon by climate change and human activities.” More information coming soon on www.missionatlantic.eu | Follow us on twitter: @MISSIONATLANTIC Image caption: Tourism, maritime transport, and small-scale fisheries are among the human activities to be assessed in MISSION ATLANTIC’s IEA approach, which will ultimately enable local communities to engage with ocean governance policies and ensure a positive future for the Atlantic Ocean and its peoples. [Image taken in Buzios, Brazil © Patrizio Mariani] MISSION ATLANTIC (“Towards the Sustainable Development of the Atlantic Ocean: Mapping and Assessing the present and future status of Atlantic marine ecosystems under the influence of climate change and exploitation”) is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, grant No. 862428. The project will run for five years from 2020 to 2025, with a total budget of €11.5 million. The 32 strong multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary MISSION ATLANTIC team represents leading organisations in ocean science, policy and industry based in Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom), South America (Brazil), South Africa and North America (Canada and USA). The project is coordinated by Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) in Denmark. ERINN is supporting Work Package 9 in MISSION ATLANTIC, Societal Engagement and Communication. The 27 European partners represent a total of 11 countries: Spain (AZTI, PLOCAN, IEO), Norway (IMR, MROB), France (CLS, IFREMER), Belgium (SSBE, VLIZ), United Kingdom (MBA, PML, STRATH, USTAN, NOC, UPL), Denmark (DTU, ICES), Sweden (WMU, SU), Germany (UH, UBH), Portugal (AIRC, UPO, IMAR), Ireland (Intrigo, Marine Institute) and Iceland (MFRI). UFSC and USP are partners in Brazil and UCT and SANBI in South Africa and MUN in Canada. Associated government research partners include the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
- Project News
- Circular Economy
July 2, 2020
Innovative circular and sustainable process to advance the extraction of critical raw materials from seawater
SEArcularMINE, a €6 million Research and Innovation project funded under EU Horizon 2020, officially launched its activities on 1 June 2020, working towards developing leading technologies to ensure the sustainable supply of raw materials for key industrial value chains in Europe. “We will prototype an innovative integrated process aimed at recovering energy and critical raw materials such as magnesium, lithium, rubidium and other trace elements from waste brines in Mediterranean basin saltworks” explains Professor Andrea Cipollina, project coordinator. The team is composed of 12 partner organisations from universities, research institutes, SMEs and multinationals from Europe and the wider Mediterranean basin. Led by the University of Palermo in Sicily, the project’s activities were initiated with a meeting on 24 June 2020 where the plans for the next four years were discussed. Europe currently depends on imports of raw materials that are critical for economic development. The minerals targeted by SEArcularMINE are increasingly needed in a range of high growth industrial sectors including advanced battery technology and plastics alongside pharmaceutical and medical applications. As the market leader, China supplies more than 85% of global magnesium demand1. SEArcularMINE will contribute towards lowering the dependency of Europe on imports, especially for the materials that have been classified by the European Commission (EC) as Critical Raw Materials (CRM). “Harvesting minerals from the sea through sustainable approaches which are environmentally friendly and economically competitive is one of the most ambitious challenges and most promising options for alternative mining” states Professor Giorgio Micale of University of Palermo. Magnesium, a designated CRM, is one of the most abundant elements in seawater. Its extraction from seawater by industrial electrolysis was widely employed, but uneconomical production costs now make this technology uncompetitive. SEArcularMINE will use very concentrated seawater brine as its starting point to develop 3 core innovative technologies, with additional process innovations also expected. A working prototype and new visitor centre in the picturesque traditional saltworks of Trapani, Sicily will be created, advancing a 2,700 year old industry into the 21st Century with globally applicable technological innovation. Environmental sustainability is a key pillar to the project, embracing the respect for nature of the traditional saltworks process. The project will target very low energy consumption, alongside using novel technology to generate electricity from salinity gradients of seawater. A critical aspect of the project will be a circular approach, aiming to eliminate the generation of waste streams. This circularity also avoids the use of any external inputs, maximising resource efficiency and economic viability. The economic impacts could be far-reaching for coastal areas of South Europe and North Africa, where saltworks are performing under capacity or are totally abandoned. The team will also consider integration with desalination technologies which could potentially help mitigate the water scarcity crisis for local communities. SEArcularMINE’s circular process concept will utilise waste streams and current infrastructure, minimising environmental and physical impacts by design, whilst developing innovative, sustainable and cost-effective technologies that will contribute to securing European access to CRM. More information coming soon: www.SEArcularMINE.eu Follow us on twitter: @SEArcularMINE Contact us Project Coordinator Andrea Cipollina (andrea.cipollina@unipa.it) or Communications Officer Tara Murphy (info@erinn.eu). SEArcularMINE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869467 (SEArcularMINE). This output reflects only the author’s view and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. ERINN Innovation are leading WP10: Communication, Dissemination, Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation.
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Renewable Energy
June 1, 2020
Great progress with RES4BUILD’s innovative components to deliver on decarbonisation of buildings
The EU-funded RES4BUILD project is developing integrated renewable energy-based solutions that are tailored to the needs and requirements of users and installers. The project aims to increase the uptake of renewable energy solutions for heating and cooling; decarbonising the energy consumption in buildings and contributing to EU energy and climate goals. The consortium is working to improve the performance and reduce the cost of the most innovative components of the RES4BUILD solutions – by integrating photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors, magnetocaloric and multi-source heat pumps, optimising their performance through advanced control and building energy management systems. The developed solutions will be validated in different regions, paving the route to the market and ensuring wide adoption. Much progress has been shown to date, with work on the main components well-underway. RES4BUILD partners MG Sustainable Engineering AB and the University of Gävle, both from Sweden, are constructing the novel concentrated PVT collector with a new reflector geometry. The prototype collectors, which provide both heat and electricity from the same area, will be tested from this summer both in Sweden and Greece to collect data from two different climatic zones. The configuration and design of the multi-source vapour injection heat pump has also been finalised using a low-GWP refrigerant (an HFO: R1234ze(E)). A Greek Supplier (Kontes S.A.) along with Honeywell supported the heat pump activities of RES4BUILD by providing at no cost the required quantity of refrigerant to Psyctotherm. It is supplied with the most optimal heat either from the outside air, from the PVT collectors or from the ground. The control unit is designed in a way to allow communication with the RES4BUILD building energy management system. A prototype of this heat pump has been manufactured by the project partner Psyctotherm and installed at NCSR Demokritos for lab tests and characterisation. Initial tests already show a coefficient of performance (COP) of over 5. In August, the heat pump will be shipped to DTI in Denmark to become a valuable part of the integrated pilot system, which will be tested later in the project. In parallel to the technical work, JIN and BAPE are working with end-users and other stakeholders on six case studies in the Netherlands and in Poland aiming to devise a best practice approach to renovations of energy systems in a more integrated and systematic way, resulting in more efficient operation and optimised interaction with the grid, and thus a lower energy bill for European consumers. The co-design approach will assist with social inclusion and ultimately contribute to an accelerated energy transition, in line with European Green Deal objectives. For more information on the project and more regular updates, please visit the project website at www.res4build.eu or follow the project on Twitter @RES4BUILD. The RES4BUILD project has received funding from the European union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 814865. RES4BUILD – “Renewables for clean energy buildings in a future power system” will run for four years, from 2019 to 2023. ERINN Innovation are leading WP8: Communication, Dissemination, Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation. Image (c) MG Sustainable Engineering
- Project News
- Marine
January 17, 2020
SEALIVE project kick-started in the fight to save our planet from plastic pollution
A pioneering new project funded by the European Union will bring advanced bio-based plastic solutions to the market, providing viable alternatives to single-use plastics. ‘Strategies of circular economy and advanced biobased solutions to keep our lands and seas alive from plastics contamination’, or SEALIVE, aims to reduce plastic waste and contamination in our environment by boosting the use of biomaterials and contributing to the circular economy with cohesive bio-plastic strategies. Eight end-applications including food packaging, cutlery and fishing nets will be upscaled, demonstrated and validated by the 24 project partners across six different regions spanning from Europe to South America. SEALIVE will combine its advanced bioplastic solutions with cutting-edge processing technology and develop sustainable business models for their use. By improving current bio-based formulas as well as developing new solutions made from aquatic biomass and organic waste, SEALIVE’s products will avoid traditional plastic ending up as waste. The new solutions will have increased durability so they last longer, better design enabling more efficient recycling and increased biodegradability so they break down after their use. The team of over 50 applied scientists, and business people from all stages of the plastics value chain came together at a kick-off meeting in Valencia, Spain, to initiate the project’s activities and discuss plans for the next four years to ensure SEALIVE meets its ambitious objectives. Project Coordinator Miriam Gallur from ITENE highlighted during this event, held on 13-14 November 2019, that: “SEALIVE will have far-reaching impacts, not only reducing pollution on land and in seas, but also offering unexploited opportunities for circular economy solutions.” Supporting the European Commission’s Plastics Strategy (COM/2018/028 final), SEALIVE results will contribute to a greater understanding of the technical, economic and social barriers of current bio-based applications. It will also build a strong reference framework for policy makers to advance legislation and further investment in this area. Recommendations for new standards from the SEALIVE project will aid the adoption of viable circular strategies in the fight to save our planet from plastic pollution. More information coming soon on www.sealive.eu Follow us on Twitter @EU_SEALIVE Contact Project Coordination Miriam Gallur (miriam.gallur@itene.com) and Marian Garcia Fernandez (marian.garcia@itene.com) or Communications Officer Annette Wilson (info@erinn.eu). The SEALIVE project will run from 2019 – 2023 with an overall budget of €10.5 million. “SEALIVE – Strategies of circular Economy and Advanced bio-based solutions to keep our Lands and seas alIVE from plastics contamination” is funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 funding programme. ERINN Innovation are leading WP8: Communication, Dissemination, Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation of Project Results.
- Project News
- Marine
December 11, 2019
New EMFF project “BIOGEARS” launched to develop biobased ropes for aquaculture
BIOGEARS is a new innovative project funded by the European Union under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund that is set to develop biobased gear solutions for the creation of an eco-friendly offshore aquaculture sector using a multitrophic approach and new biobased value chains. The project aims to provide the European aquaculture sector with innovative products and a value chain to challenge the existing gap of biobased ropes for offshore aquaculture, nowadays manufactured with 100% non-recyclable plastics. BIOGEARS will foster an eco-friendly aquaculture industry with the results of the project creating a biobased value chain under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy framework. BIOGEARS uses an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) approach by integrating seaweed with mussel production, which aims to increase aquaculture marketable products. The current use of biobased plastic (produced from biomass renewable resources that can biodegrade in different environmental conditions) only represents about one percent of the 335 million tonnes of plastic produced annually. The BIOGEARS project will develop biobased ropes that though durable and fit-for-purpose, still biodegrade in a shorter time and can be sustainably managed by local composting facilities. The project therefore follows the principles of the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy and supports forthcoming policy on marine litter and plastic use. It is important to balance the functionality and biodegradation behaviour of the biobased ropes in order to develop the right biobased formulation for the aquaculture sector. The research, prototype development and pilot tests taking place in BIOGEARS will aim to reduce the current technological gaps and extend the current potential use in the sector. As part of the project a BLUE LAB will be created to enhance cooperation between all partners of the project and enable them to track innovation related to the application of their new biobased materials to develop aquaculture ropes. It will be supported by knowledge transfer activities throughout the project to ensure that results and new biobased products will reach relevant end users and transform the aquaculture sector. At the kick-off meeting on 11 December 2019 in AZTI offices in Derio, Spain, we heard from the Project Coordinator Leire Arantzamendi that BIOGEARS hopes to boost more eco-friendly mussel and seaweed production. She said “We will generate three rope prototypes with a highly reduced carbon footprint along the whole value chain. The aim is to develop these as marketable products, whilst minimising the potential of aquaculture to generate marine litter or release plastic to the sea.” As the only project within the EMFF-BlueEconomy-2018 (Blue Labs) call that has a geographical focus on the Atlantic Basin BIOGEARS therefore represents an exciting research area for this region. More information coming soon on www.biogears.eu Follow us on twitter: @BIOGEARS_EU Or contact Project coordinator Leire Arantzamendi (larantzamendi@azti.es), or Communications Officer Jane Maher (info@erinn.eu) The BIOGEARS project will run from 2019 – 2022 with an EU contribution of €945,000, funded by the European Union EASME EMFF programme under the EMFF-0102018 Blue Labs call. ERINN Innovation are leading WP7: Dissemination, communication and outreach activities, and are involved in WP6: Measures for the transferability of project activities and results.
- Horizon Europe
- Project News
- Renewable Energy
December 6, 2019
New research project to drive decarbonisation of energy usage in Europe’s buildings
Decarbonising energy consumption in buildings is essential to achieve EU energy and climate goals. While the use of renewable electricity in buildings has grown steadily the uptake of renewable energy solutions for heating and cooling has been slower. The EU Horizon 2020 funded RES4BUILD project will address this challenge by developing integrated renewable energy-based solutions that are tailored to the needs and requirements of users and installers. The consortium’s multidisciplinary experts will work to improve the performance and reduce the cost of the most innovative components of the RES4BUILD solutions – by integrating PV/T collectors, magnetocaloric heat pumps, and a multi-source heat pump which are optimised through advanced control for increased performance in building systems. The various RES4BUILD solutions will be tested and validated in different climates with a thorough life cycle assessment, paving the way for bringing the developed solutions to the market and ensuring wide adoption. Much progress was already shown at the second RES4BUILD General Assembly which took place from 20-21 November 2019 in Vries, the Netherlands. Project partners JIN organised the meeting at one of the case study sites operated by Visio, who provide housing and day-care to clients with visual impairments. The project will feature a co-design process with stakeholders such as Visio. This will enable developers, service providers and end-users to ensure that resulting integrated energy systems meet the needs of the clients. Further case studies will take place across a range of suitable sites across Poland and the Netherlands, including multi-family buildings, primary schools, industrial buildings, home-owner associations and a shopping mall. The project aims to deliver solutions that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity, heating and cooling in buildings. Through its work, RES4BUILD will devise a best practice approach to renovations of energy systems in a more integrated and systematic way, resulting in more efficient operation and optimised interaction with the grid, and thus a lower energy bill for European consumers. The co-design approach will assist with social inclusion and ultimately contribute to an accelerated energy transition. RES4BUILD have joined forces with eight other H2020 projects working in the field of renewable energy technologies in buildings and have formed a cluster called “Building Energy Horizons” to collectively benefit from collaborative activities at technical and dissemination levels. For more information on the BE Horizons cluster, please see: www.res4build.eu/about/be-horizons. For more information on the project, please visit the newly launched project website at www.res4build.eu or follow the project on Twitter @RES4BUILD. The RES4BUILD project has received funding from the European union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 814865. RES4BUILD – “Renewables for clean energy buildings in a future power system” will run for four years, from 2019 to 2023. ERINN Innovation are leading WP8: Communication, Dissemination, Knowledge Transfer and Exploitation.
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ERINN Innovation Ltd
Company No.: 600883 (Ireland)
Company No.: 600883 (Ireland)
Directors
David Murphy (IE/UK)
Laura Richardson (IE)
Marieke Reuver (NL)
Michael Papapetrou (GR/IE)
Reid Hole (NO)
