Pioneering the Path to Net Zero: Decarbonizing Heat in the Food and Drink

European food and drink manufacturers must decrease their 94 Mt CO2e emissions to align with the EU's 2050 net-zero goal. Decarbonisation involves sustainable practices, overcoming high costs, leveraging renewable energy, and adopting measures like advanced energy management to reduce emissions efficiently.

The European R&I Days highlighted the need for a comprehensive government approach involving research and innovation to achieve the European Green Deal’s decarbonization targets. Showcasing success stories, it emphasized collaboration for transforming energy-intensive industries and integrating R&I for a sustainable future.

The article examines the efficacy of decentralizing environmental taxes to address region-specific environmental issues, contrasting it with centralization that may cause fiscal competition and efficiency losses. It suggests harmonizing economic incentives with environmental protection to optimize the impact of environmental taxes on sustainability.

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 "From Farm to Fork" strategy under the European Green Deal sets ambitious targets like reducing pesticides, increasing organic farming, and halving food waste by 2030. It emphasizes environmental health and economic benefits, advocating technological innovation and stronger global partnerships for sustainable food systems.

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.