Smart integration of net zero technologies into Energy Intensive industries (Processes4Planet and Made in Europe partnerships) (IA)

Expected Outcome:

Manufactures of net zero technology solutions, as well as energy intensive industries will benefit from the following outcomes:

• Enable the sustainable and efficient use of energy in the energy intensive industries by bridging the gap between users and manufacturers of net-zero solutions for the energy-intensive industries.
• Foster win-win situations in which equipment manufactures co-create solutions with the energy-intensive industrial sectors opening new markets for the net-zero technologies;
• Develop new net-zero technologies industrially integrated processes that support the decarbonization of industry and offer new market opportunities;
• Enhance competitiveness of the European Energy Intensive and manufacturing industries;
• Accelerate the adoption of net-zero technologies in the energy intensive industries.

Scope:

As the industry decarbonises net-zero technologies^[1] can be applied to a wide range of energy intensive sectors and processes. Furthermore, the Net-Zero Industry Act which is part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, is aiming at increasing the manufacturing capacity of strategic net-zero technologies to meet at least 40% of the EU’s annual deployment needs. In this framework the aim of this topic is to accelerate the deployment of net-zero technologies in at least one industrial sectors through a closer collaboration between, net-zero technology manufacturers and energy intensive industries.

Proposals under this topic should address several of the following:

• Facilitate collaboration between at least one energy intensive industrial sector, with manufacturers of net-zero technology solutions, as well as where relevant engineering, and construction firms for the smart integration of one or several net-zero technologies in specific processes. Several energy intensive industrial sectors can be considered if they share similar processes and energy related needs;
• Assess the needs of the proposed industrial sector(s) to define ‘standard’ process(es) and assess operational energy needs through a closer exchange with net-zero technology manufacturers and suppliers in order to effectively design sustainable and cost-efficient energy solutions;
• Optimise and adapt technologies, products and solutions proposed by manufacturers of net zero technologies to meet the industrial sector needs;
• Propose and demonstrate the necessary modifications of processes for the efficient and flexible incorporation and the integration of net zero technologies in existing industrial plants;
• Demonstrate the effectiveness and replicability of the proposed approaches allowing to move from custom-built project by project approach for each specific industrial plant and process, to more streamlined, standardised yet flexible solution for industrial sector(s) and/or processes;
• Develop solutions offering an optimal balance between standardisation and flexibility as well as providing high-quality tailored solutions at competitive prices;
• Support the development of skills for the integration of net-zero technologies into energy intensive industries.

Proposals should involve all actors in the value chain from the manufacturers of net zero technology solutions to energy intensive industries and engineering and construction firms. Interoperability and secure and trusted data sharing between the stakeholders of the value chain should be ensured.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. As project output an elaborated exploitation plan should be developed, including preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation and deployment (feasibility study, business plan and financial model) indicating possible private and public funding sources (e.g. Innovation Fund, InvestEU and cohesion policy funds). Societal- and environmental impact as well as implications for the workplace (including skills and organisational changes) should be outlined. Proposals should ensure dissemination and replication of the proposed approaches for wide deployment, including advising and building capacity among the relevant actors. Proposals should be based on a sound techno-economic analysis that confirms the economic viability in view of evolving regulatory frameworks.

The inclusion of a GHG avoidance methodology^[2] is recommended and should provide detailed description of baselines and projected reductions.

The attention of proposers is also drawn to the complementary topic HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-05: Advanced manufacturing technologies for leadership of EU manufacturers in products for the net-zero industry.

This topic implements the co-programmed European partnerships Processes4Planet and Made in Europe.

[1] Net-zero technologies as defined in the Net Zero Industry Act, Annex I: Strategic Net-zero Technologies

[2] That could follow Innovation Fund methodology: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2021/call-annex_c_innovfund-lsc-2021_en.pdf