Unveiling the Energy Footprint of Europe's Food Sector

The OneNet Project Final Event marked the culmination of efforts to reshape Europe's electricity system. Key topics included TSO-DSO coordination, market design, consumer engagement, and leveraging data for grid operations. The initiative aligns with EU interoperability objectives and promotes a sustainable, unified market.

The eceee industrial energy efficiency conference in Antwerp focused on the imperative for industry to achieve deep decarbonisation while remaining competitive. Themes included future challenges, energy management, and change drivers, acknowledging the complexity of decarbonising industries in under three decades.

This article discusses institutional investors' perspective on energy efficiency and how metered efficiency could spur investment. It addresses financial institutions' growing interest in energy efficiency due to market potential, risk mitigation, carbon emission reduction, and regulatory pressure. Barriers like small project scale, heterogeneity, data scarcity, and performance risk inhibit investment. The concept of metered efficiency, akin to Power Purchase Agreements, is presented as a solution to align payment with actual energy savings, enhancing investability and quality assurance in energy efficiency projects.

The IS2H4C project, funded with €20 million by the European Commission, aims to revolutionize sustainable regional development through creating four industrial symbiosis hubs in Europe. The consortium of 31 partners will focus on circular economy models, financial schemes, and social innovation to facilitate systemic shifts and sustainable industrial practices.

The study analyzes alternative fuel impacts on U.S. cement industry emissions, finding marginal CO2 reductions and variable non-CO2 pollutant changes. Fuel types examined include waste and biomass, with a focus on CO2, SO2, NOx, and PM emissions across different replacement scenarios.

The eLITHE project, funded by the EU and coordinated by Spain's Fundación CIRCE, aims to decarbonize the ceramic industry by electrifying high-temperature thermal processes. Running until 2027, with demonstrations in Spain, Greece, and Germany, it employs innovative heating solutions and digital technologies.

The European Energy Efficiency Conference in Wels, Austria, from 6-7 March 2024, emphasizes urgent implementation of energy efficiency measures in response to fluctuating prices, geopolitical instability, and climate crisis. It addresses new EU targets, energy efficiency market demands, and showcases the EENOVA and DEESME EU projects. Over 60 speakers will cover policies, markets, financing, e-mobility, and industrial decarbonization. The event includes a tradeshow and opportunities for peer exchange and networking.

We need to triple global energy efficiency investment to meet COP28 goals. ESCO contracts can bridge the development gap by managing both technical and financial risks, fostering demand, and increasing financing capacity. Innovations like Super ESCOs, CaaS, LaaS, and standardized contract forms like EPCs can accelerate growth, but require policymakers, professionals, and financiers to align efforts for broad market scaling.

The EU Energy Efficiency Financing Declaration promotes energy efficiency as crucial for the EU's 2050 decarbonization, targeting a 11.7% increase by 2030. It urges substantial private investment for energy transition, aligning with the EU Green Deal, REPowerEU, and Paris Agreement goals, aiming for climate neutrality and economic resilience. The declaration establishes the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition to mobilize funding and outlines public sector leadership and investment conditions for energy efficiency projects.