Smart grids

Smart grids

  • eNeuron: greEN Energy hUbs for local integRated energy cOmmunities optimizatioN

    Project dates: 01. Nov 2020 - 31. Oct 2024

    Objective

    The main goal of the eNeuron project is to develop innovative tools for the optimal design and operation of local
    energy communities (LECs) integrating distributed energy resources and multiple energy carriers at different scales.
    This goal will be achieved, by having in mind all the potential benefits achievable for the different actors involved
    and by promoting the Energy Hub concept, as a conceptual model for controlling and managing multi-carrier and
    integrated energy systems in order to optimize their architecture and operation. In order to ensure both the shortterm and the long-term sustainability of this new energy paradigm and thus support an effective implementation and deployment, economic and environmental aspects will be taken into account in the optimization tools through a multiobjective approach. eNeuron’s proposed tools enable tangible sustainability and energy security benefits for all the stakeholders in the LEC. Local prosumers (households, commercial and industrial actors) stand to benefit through the reduction of energy costs while leveraging local, low carbon energy. Developers and solution providers will find new opportunities for technologies as part of an integrated, replicable operational business model. Distribution system operators (DSOs) benefit from avoiding grid congestion and deferring network investments. Policy makers benefit from increasingly sustainable and secure energy supply systems. eNeuron is a high TRL project in line with the Work Programme, by developing innovative approaches and methodologies to optimally plan and operate integrated LECs through the optimal selection and use of multiple energy carriers and by considering both short- and long-run priorities. Through optimally coordinating all energy carriers and vectors, cost-effective and low-carbon solutions will be provided for fostering the deployment and implementation of this new energy paradigm at European level.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 17
    Site numbers:
    4

    ENEA

    FOSS

    IEn

    IREC

    SINTEF

    TECNALIA

    DERlab e.V.

    EPRI EUROPE DAC

    UNIVPM

    UPM

    ENEA OPERATOR

    Skagerak

    EDP LABELEC

    ICONS

    Marinha

    CoB

    TU/e

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • deMonstration of smArt and flExible solutions for a decarboniSed energy future in Mayotte and other European islAnds

    Project dates: 01. Nov 2020 - 31. Oct 2024

    Objective

    Making islands smart, green and prosperous

    There are more than 2 200 inhabited islands in the EU, many of which depend on expensive fossil fuel imports for their energy supply. The large-scale deployment of local renewable energy sources and storage systems would contribute to decarbonising the energy system. However, this endeavour requires flexible solutions, new tools and efficient frameworks that can be adapted to local needs. The EU-funded MAESHA project will develop smart and flexible methods of storage and energy management as well as modelling tools and technical systems with the aim of promoting the transition towards sustainable energy. Designed with respect to the interests of the local communities, adapted to the market and ready to be disseminated, the new approaches will serve as a demonstration for the future decarbonisation of the Mayotte and other European islands.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 11
    Site numbers:
    1

    TUB

    COBRA

    CENTRICA

    TRIALOG

    E3-MODELLING AE

    CYBERGRID GMBH & CO KG

    CREARA

    HIVE POWER

    HUDARA

    CONSORCIO PARA EL DISENO, CONSTRUCCION, EQUIPAMIENTO Y EXPLOTACION DE LA PLATAFORMA OCEANICA DE CANARIAS

    Euroquality

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

    • Effective use:
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  • Single layer N-doped Graphene modified polymer Electrolyte Membrane with aligned nanowire electrodes for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

    Project dates: 01. Sep 2021 - 11. Oct 2023

    Objective

    Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), benefiting from low operating temperature, environment-friendly operation, simplicity, quick start-up and shutdown, have been demonstrated as sources of portable and backup power in consumer electronic devices. If bio-ethanol, as the most used bio-fuel world-wide with an existing supply chain and infrastructure, is used, the carbon emission from DEFCs can be considered as zero. These advantages make the DEFC a potential alternative to existing technologies to fill the increasing gap between energy demand and energy storage capacity in the low power applications. However, the power performance of DEFCs is low, mainly limited by ethanol crossover through polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and the slow kinetic activity of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) at the anode. Thick membranes required to reduce the ethanol crossover but significantly increasing proton conducting resistance. A very high catalyst loading also needed at both electrodes to overcome the sluggish EOR and compensate the poisoning of the crossed ethanol. Challenges for DEFCs include reducing Pt loading and ethanol crossover to increase energy and power density, improve reliability and reduce cost. In GemDEFC, inspired by the unique proton conductivity and high impermeability to molecules of single layer graphene, the excellent mass transfer performance and catalytic activities of aligned 1D nanostructure electrodes, we’ll develop low ethanol crossover and highly proton conductive PEM modified with single layer N-doped graphene on the surface, and further hybrid with aligned Pt alloy or even platinum group metal–free (PGM-free) ZnS nanowire catalyst electrodes to achieve low-cost, high power performance and reliable DEFCs that can meet the targets for commercial applications in the low power applications. GemDEFC is built on the complementary skills of the Experienced Researcher (graphene and surface modification) and supervisors (1D nanostructures and fuel cells).

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY’S NOVEL DIGITALISATION VALUE CHAINS FOR CONNECTING MACHINES WITH PEOPLE, PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY

    Project dates: 14. Jun 2021 - 13. Jun 2024

    Objective

    Manufacturer companies which represent 41.4% of the EU manufacturing sector’s value added and 57.6% of the total workforce, are facing major challenges due to their shortage of energy/resource efficiency and digitalisation. ICT SMEs and start-ups can provide game-changing solutions for many manufacturers, creating new cross-sector interconnections and value chains. In this context, MIND4MACHINES project aims to facilitate the cross-sectoral and cross-border support needed by manufacturing SMEs to validate and adopt cross-cutting digital technologies provided by ICT SMEs and start-ups, particularly by addressing holistically the entire digitalisation value chain, combining manufacturing and novel, disruptive solutions in ICT(hardware, software, services and connectivity, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, IoT and Cybersecurity).
    This will be done in a systemic approach which will (i) foster the ecosystem creation and reinforcement in targeted European regions,(ii) promote cross-sectoral and cross-border open collaboration,(iii) provide direct financial and technical support and (iv) offer capacity building programmes. The project will replicate and disseminate its activities across the EU, with an initial focus on the regions represented by the partners in the consortium and aiming at delivering a large-scale demonstrator support after co-creating together with the stakeholders the strategic common vision.
    The MIND4MACHINES consortium, led by ICI, brings together the cluster organisations and SME intermediary organisations from 6 different H2020 countries, ensuring a complementary balance of sectoral focus, experience and approach in support of SMEs and clustering mechanisms.
    The major funding instruments put in place will be the Innovation Scheme (for TRL 5-7) and the Market Readiness Scheme (for TRL 8-9) which will deliver nearly 78% of the Project budget to ICT SMEs and start-ups by means of a lump sum, business support and open calls.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 12
    Site numbers:

    ASOCIACION DE EMPRESARIOS DEL COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DEL METAL DE MADRID

    AGENTIA DE DEZVOLTARE REGIONALA NORD-VEST

    ISTANBUL KALKINMA AJANSI

    SDRUZHENIE INDUSTRIALEN KLASTER ELEKTROMOBILI

    SILICON SAXONY E.V.

    BWCON GMBH

    IPA SA

    • Partner
    • IPA SA
    • Romania
    • Budget: 136, 625

    F6S NETWORK IRELAND LIMITED

    CENTRO SERVIZI INDUSTRIE SRL

    F6S NETWORK LIMITED

    ISTANBUL SANAYI ODASI

    Research & Innovation

    TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies united for Lightweight

    Project dates: 01. Sep 2021 - 30. Nov 2024

    Objective

    The benefits of lightweighting in decarbonisation & resource efficiency for circular economy cuts across different industries, having the most important impacts on the automotive, aerospace & aeronautics, energy and building sectors. During the last decades, the main types of advanced materials and their manufacturing have enabled reducing weight while enhancing performance. However, their rate and intensity of penetration have been distributed unevenly across sectors, limiting their full potential. The goal of AMULET is to create new value chains by fostering the penetration of advanced materials in different fields through cross-regional and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange. Three types of activities will be implemented to foster innovation in SMEs. Firstly, R&D demonstration projects targeting current sectorial challenges will be developed to reach TRL7, following a competitive-based approach. Secondly, all SMEs participating in the project will receive technical training suport and business-to-business coaching for accelerating the commercialising of their innovative solutions. These activities will create a unique self-sustainable business framework, in which end-users and SMEs from established and new industrial supply chains will explore innovative lightweight-driven market opportunities. The consortium comprises a joint network of some 1717 SMEs, 341 large corporates and 93 universities, research and innovation institutes. At the long term, about 2,215 working positions are estimated to be created, while generating an additional €228M turnover for the targeted sectors. The ultimate goal of AMULET is to significantly contribute to CO2 emissions reduction in the EU by boosting the role of SMEs, in which their innovations are expected to be facilitated & supported by clusters.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 15
    Site numbers:

    MORAVSKOSLEZSKY AUTOMOBILOVY KLASTR OS

    BYDGOSZCZ INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER

    INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN

    POLYMERIS

    • Project coordinator
    • POLYMERIS
    • France
    • Budget: 2, 752, 800

    PECS-BARANYAI KERESKEDELMI ES IPARKAMARA

    FUNDINGBOX ACCELERATOR SP ZOO

    FUNDINGBOX COMMUNITIES SL

    TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET CHEMNITZ

    ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA

    I.M.A.S.T. - DISTRETTO SULL'INGEGNERIA DEI MATERIALI POLIMERICI E COMPOSITI E STRUTTURE SCARL

    FLANDERS MAKE

    ASSOCIACIO CLUSTER DE MATERIALS AVANCATS DE CATALUNYA

    CLUST-ER MECCATRONICA E MOTORISTICA

    BAX INNOVATION CONSULTING SL

    NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Hardware Acceleration for Computing on Encrypted Data

    Project dates: 01. Mar 2022 - 28. Feb 2027

    Objective

    Electronics are part of all aspects of our daily life, at home, at work, while on the road. Smart cities, medical devices, financial transactions, self-driving cars, all rely on electronics. At the same time, these activities generate huge amounts of data, which for privacy and security reasons, are stored encrypted on a possibly untrusted cloud server. Yet, many applications benefit from operations on this data. Statistics or machine learning on medical, financial, automotive or energy data could discover trends or abuse, could be used to monitor pandemics, to tune supply and demand, and much more. Ideally, the calculations on the data should be done without decrypting them first to avoid data leaks.
    Computing on encrypted data is the new magic in the field of cryptography: it enables calculations on the encrypted data, while data remains encrypted in the cloud and without the need to decrypt it. The result will only be decrypted by the final recipient. Challenging in these novel mathematical concepts is a gigantic blow-up in the size of ciphertext data, in the amount of calculations on the encrypted data, and in the novel lattice based arithmetic used.
    The core challenge addressed in BELFORT is to make this new technology feasible from a hardware perspective and in realistic scenarios, providing the best performance/energy balance, for it to run on cloud servers and edge devices, within reasonable memory, computation and energy budgets. We propose reconfigurable hardware-based acceleration with domain-specific programmable co-processors, which combine energy efficiency with domain specific programmability and with resistance to attacks from classic and quantum computers. We will develop multiple new ideas as well as bring them together in an end-to-end demonstrator.
    The PI has the unique expertise and is a pioneer in translating novel cryptographic algorithms into efficient and secure realizations on a wide range of hardware/software platforms.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Activation of NATURE-based solutions for a JUST low carbon transition

    Project dates: 01. Sep 2021 - 28. Feb 2026

    Objective

    Cities are major energy consumers and significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They have a high density of socio-economic activities and a built environment design that enhance these issues. In this regard, especially developed cities can be exemplars in leading the way towards a low-carbon society, and turning it into an opportunity as recently iterated by the European Green Deal. Such advances can address several other challenges arising from urbanisation and structural socio-economic changes. Cities represent a complex setting, where low income populations are more exposed to environmental ills, environmental and climate impacts are not distributed evenly, environmental qualities are becoming increasingly exclusive to high-income households, and wealthier neighbourhoods are more biologically diverse than others. In this regard, the overall objective of JUSTNature is the activation of nature-based solutions (NbS) by ensuring a just transition to low-carbon cities, based on the principle of the right to ecological space. This in particular refers to the right to clean air and indoor/outdoor thermal comfort for human health and well-being, as well as thriving biodiversity and ecosystems. It also refers to the duty of not constraining the ecological space of others, in particular in relation to the mitigation of climate change and measures required for reducing GHG emissions. JUSTNature will contribute to this vision of shaping low-carbon cities by developing a set of typical Low carbon | High air quality NbS in seven European city practice labs. By activating their just implementation, it will drive the co-design, co-creation and co-decision of supporting interventions with regard to four innovation dimensions: 1) enabling effective governance, 2) enabling NbS system maintenance and operation, 3) enabling innovative business models and market design, and 4) enabling efficient technologies and applications.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 23
    Site numbers:

    IES R&D

    • Partner
    • IES R&D
    • Ireland
    • Budget: 399, 175

    PROSPEX INSTITUTE

    PLANETEK ITALIA SRL

    TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN

    POLYTECHNEIO KRITIS

    COMUNE DI BOLZANO

    CROWDHELIX LIMITED

    CROWDHELIX LIMITED

    RWI - LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR WIRTSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG e.V.

    ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANO

    COMUNE DI MERANO

    GZIRA LOCAL COUNCIL

    E2ARC ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH FOR CITIES

    UNIVERSITA TA MALTA

    ABUD MERNOKIRODA KFT

    INLECOM COMMERCIAL PATHWAYS COMPANYLIMITED BY GUARANTEE

    STICHTING ISOCARP INSTITUTE CENTER OF URBAN EXCELLENCE

    KYDON DIMOTIKI ANONYMI ETAIREIA EKMETALLEYSI STATHMOU AYTOKINITON

    SZOMBATHELY MEGYEI JOGU VAROS ONKORMANYZATA

    STAD LEUVEN

    INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED

    LANDESHAUPTSTADT MUNCHEN

    LEUVEN KLIMAATNEUTRAAL 2030

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Combining catalysts design and reactor engineering to enhance the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia

    Project dates: 01. Jul 2022 - 30. Jun 2024

    Objective

    In 2020, the total global production of ammonia is up to 144 million metric tons via the Haber-Bosch process that is energy-intensive in that it requires a substantial driving force (e.g. 500 oC and 200 atm) to break the highly inert N-N triple bond, which consumes 1-2% of the world’s annual energy output and generates over 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The electrochemical nitrogen (N2) reduction reaction (NRR) has attracted much attention to circumvent the carbon-intensive Haber-Bosch process because of the decreasing renewable electricity prices. In contrast to the Haber-Bosch process that produces ammonia in large and centralized factories, the electrocatalytic route can achieve on-site ammonia synthesis in small-scale devices with the expectation to reduce the price of fertilizer and realize a neutral carbon footprint. However, electrochemical ammonia synthesis suffers from extremely low partial current density and Faradaic efficiency towards ammonia in aqueous conditions due to the competition of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). There are two challenges to NRR in aqueous conditions: (1) the HER competitive reaction is much faster than NRR in kinetics and the activation of N2 is therefore difficult, (2) low solubility of N2 in aqueous electrolytes. To overcome the challenges mentioned above, in this project, I aim to combine electrocatalysts design (i.e. suppress the HER and activate N2) and electrochemical reactor engineering (i.e. overcome the mass transport limits of N2) to improve the ammonia yield rates and current efficiency. Theory-guided preparation of singe-atom catalysts and diluted surface alloy will be performed in flow-cell/MEA electrolyzers (i.e. designed three different setups) to obtain a clear structure-activity relationship with the assistance of in-situ spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The obtained structure-activity relationship could guide the rational development of high-performance catalysts for efficient NRR.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Composite material technology for next-generation Marine Vessel Propellers.

    Project dates: 01. Jun 2022 - 31. May 2025

    Objective

    CoPropel puts forth a holistic approach towards the realisation of marine propellers made of advanced composite materials. Compared to their traditional counterparts, marine composite propellers offer efficiency gains in propulsion efficiency, noise reduction and weight savings.

    The CoPropel project will see an interdisciplinary team of experts drawn both from research and industry, from theoretical considerations and numerical modelling to precision manufacturing - assembly and experimental verification testing. The CoPropel action brings together 9 organisations from 5 countries: 4 Research Institutes – TWI, University of Ioannina, Brunel University London and The Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamics Centre; 4 Industrial partners – Loiretech, MECA, Danaos and Glafcos Marine with one certification body Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. Together, we will develop and bring to market a marine composite propeller with an embedded structural health monitoring system. The proposed activities will mature our Technology Readiness Level to 5-6 and drastically de-risk the integration of the investigated solutions on future products, effectively resulting in reducing the direct operating costs for the operators while minimising the environmental impact.

    Existing work by the partners has shown an approximate 12% reduction in energy consumption and subsequent fuel consumption, with the potential savings exceeding 15% at full-scale marine vessel propellers, which will be investigated and confirmed during our real-time sea trials as part of the CoPropel project.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 9
    Site numbers:

    MECA

    • Partner
    • MECA
    • France
    • Budget: 754, 922

    BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE REGISTRE INTERNATIONAL DE CLASSIFICATION DE NAVIRES ET DE PLATEFORMES OFFSHORE

    LOIRETECH INGENIERIE

    DANAOS SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED

    GLAFCOS MARINE EPE

    INSTITUTE OF METAL SCIENCE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES WITH HYDROAERODYNAMICS CENTRE ACAD A BALEVSKI

    BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON

    PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON

    TWI LIMITED

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Synthesis of novel stimuli responsive dielectric polymers and their use in powerful transducers

    Project dates: 01. May 2021 - 30. Apr 2026

    Objective

    This ERC CoG will serve to build a strong multidisciplinary group concentrating on the synthesis of novel functional dielectric polymers that are printed into devices capable of converting one form of energy into another. Research spans all the way from materials’ synthesis and optimization, via device engineering to exploration of the manifold applications. TRANS will develop novel high dielectric permittivity elastomers and piezoelectric elastomers with an unprecedented collection of properties and use them as active components in devices for emerging technologies. The devices are not only of high technological and scientific importance, but also exhibit substantial economic and societal impact. They will reversibly change their shape in response to an electric field, generate electricity when mechanically stretched, cool while using little energy, convert thermal energy directly into electricity and, finally, store electricity in the form of batteries. The polymers developed in TRANS will combine either unprecedentedly high dielectric permittivity with a high dielectric breakdown field or piezoelectric properties with high elasticity. They have the potential to revolutionize different fields of applications such as actuators, sensors, energy harvesting, artificial muscles, soft robotics, energy storage, stretchable electronics, and solid-state refrigeration. A particularly important aspect concerns the synthesis of scalable and environmentally friendly, easy-to-apply and process printable inks, which are the active ingredients of various devices. After project termination, the applicant’s group will expand the fundamental understanding of structure-dielectric properties relationship and will be able to provide inks that are printed in prototype devices responsive to electricity, heat or mechanical stress.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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