Small systems, big benefits

Electricity is a powerful thing, but it is necessary that the amount of electricity in the grid corresponds with actual consumption needs. The amount of green energy generated in 2019 represented 27 % of the worldwide production and only 13% of the entire production capacity in Slovakia.

In a global interconnected system understanding where hydrogen has come from will become incredibly important. The temptation for some to make hydrogen from coal and release the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere may be too great, however as international trade develops the risk increases.

A recent survey in the United Kingdom assessed public perception to be largely ambivalent to hydrogen. Over 64% of participants were unable to demonstrate even a basic knowledge of hydrogen technology or its potential to contribute to the energy system.

The SUPER-HEERO project aims to provide a replicable financial scheme for energy efficiency investment in small and medium supermarkets. It starts from a high-level analysis of typical supermarkets energy systems and equipment, to create a catalogue with the most relevant and easy to replicate energy efficiency measures.

ProcuRE launched the first out of three phases towards reaching its goal. Six procurers from Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Israel, and Turkey selected three innovative Renovation Approaches. The Call for Tenders was released on 24 November 2021.

The code of the integrated platform and of its modules is now available at GitHub. This means that a large community of potential users will now be able to access it for free. By testing the platforms application in different geographical locations, it can be tailored to the needs of the final users.

The optimization of energy use in buildings and industry requires a systems approach to harvest its full potential. This idea is winning ground, as it is shown by the proposal of the ITRE committee of the European Parliament to include a definition of ‘system efficiency'.

Hydrogen is the talk of the town and the Commission makes it a big priority in its green industrial strategy. There are few hydrogen fuel cell cars and most of them are actually demonstration vehicles.

The construction sector is leaving more than buildings behind it. Interventions aiming to reduce or optimise the energy use of this industry would help us leave a better mark on the planet.