A new chapter in European industrial decarbonisation has begun. On 3-4 November 2026, MetalDecarb officially launched its three-year journey to help Europe’s basic metals and foundry sector adopt cleaner, more energy-efficient technologies. To mark the beginning, project partners gathered in Milan, Italy, for a kick-off meeting hosted by the project coordinator, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico (RSE).
The meeting brought together the organisations behind this new European collaboration, including Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes (EEIP), to begin work towards a common goal: making industrial decarbonisation more practical and financially accessible. For EEIP, joining MetalDecarb means contributing to another European initiative focused on bridging the gap between available clean energy solutions and their actual implementation in industry.
Making Clean Energy Investments Work for Metal Producers
European metal producers face a difficult balancing act. Their production processes require significant amounts of energy, while pressure to reduce emissions, manage costs and remain competitive continues to grow. Although cleaner technologies are increasingly available, deciding which solutions to adopt, how to finance them and how to integrate them into existing facilities can be particularly challenging for smaller companies.
MetalDecarb addresses these barriers by connecting metal manufacturers with clean energy technology providers and helping companies build stronger business cases for investment. Through collaborative activities in Italy, Austria, Spain and Poland, the project will develop practical case studies, replicable business models and guidance tailored to the realities of the sector. A dedicated capacity-building programme will also help industrial stakeholders better understand available technologies and make informed decisions about their own decarbonisation pathways.
The objective is not simply to promote cleaner technologies, but to help companies understand how they can work in practice, what they might cost and what benefits they could deliver beyond energy savings.
EEIP’s Role in Connecting Knowledge and Industry
Within the consortium, EEIP leads Work Package 6, covering communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement. Our responsibility is to help ensure that the knowledge and tools developed through MetalDecarb reach the industrial companies, technology providers and other stakeholders who can put them to use. This includes building the project’s visibility, encouraging collaboration and supporting the exchange of experiences between the consortium and the wider European industrial community.
The Milan kick-off marks the starting point for this work. Over the coming months, EEIP will help establish the project’s communication channels, develop its stakeholder network and lay the groundwork for sharing its activities and results. As the project progresses, we look forward to bringing practical insights and opportunities for collaboration to our network, helping more European metal producers explore realistic pathways towards cleaner production.
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Fundig Acknowledgement
MetalDecarb is co-funded by the European Union under the LIFE Programme, grant agreement No. 101293680. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
