Feeding the Future: Navigating Europe's Journey to Sustainability

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

Hydrogen is emerging as a potential solution for combating climate change. But there is a need to differentiate between green hydrogen—produced renewably, essential for certain industries—and less sustainable forms like grey, black, and blue hydrogen, which have significant carbon footprints. Pink hydrogen, though less harmful, presents nuclear waste challenges.

Europe advances smart mobility, driven by sustainability and urbanization challenges. EU policies promote electric and autonomous transport, integrating innovations like IoT, MaaS, and AI. Case studies from Barcelona, Stockholm, and Amsterdam highlight smart solutions reshaping urban travel, setting global benchmarks.

Space-based solar energy (SBSE) overcomes terrestrial solar power limitations, offering continuous, efficient energy. Despite high costs and ecological concerns, advances in technology and interest from ESA and CALTECH's SSPD indicate its promising potential for sustainable energy.