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    The EIB offers support to the Innovation Fund through Project Development Assistance (PDA). The PDA will offer tailor-made support to selected projects, with the goal to increase project maturity for subsequent Innovation Fund calls.


      Check the recording of our online Knowledge sharing event.


    The fund will provide around €40 billion of support over 2020-2030 (at €75/tCO2), depending on the carbon price, for the commercial demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, aiming to bring industrial solutions to the market to decarbonise Europe and support the transition to climate neutrality while fostering its competitiveness.

    The Innovation Fund is implemented by the European Commission with the assistance of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The Project Development Assistance is implemented through the EIB. The Innovation Fund applies grant financing through calls for proposals, for large-scale (capital expenditure > €100 million), medium-scale (capital expenditure between €20 million and €100 million) and small-scale projects (capital expenditure between €2.5 million and < €20 million). Find out more.

    What type of support does the EIB provide to the Innovation Fund?

    The Innovation Fund includes a dedicated Project Development Assistance (PDA) provided by the EIB. This PDA support is offered to projects which are not awarded grant support from the fund following their evaluation and is available to large, medium and small-scale projects.

    Objective

    The objective of the PDA is to improve projects’ maturity for subsequent IF calls for proposals through high-quality technical and financial advisory support tailored to the project needs. The PDA also aims to support projects to improve their chances for financial closing and entry into operation.

    Eligible projects
    ©Graphic workshop/EIB

    Projects submitted under the IF calls for proposals that are not selected for grant funding will be proposed by CINEA evaluators to receive PDA, if they meet the criteria, as defined in the call, and if they show the potential for improving their maturity through specific PDA.

    Find out more about the next calls for the Innovation Fund.

    Deployment of Project Development Assistance

    Eligible projects proposed by CINEA are reviewed and shortlisted by the EIB, based on the level of maturity as identified during the evaluation process.

    The shortlisted projects are then submitted to the European Commission for approval. The EIB technical and financial experts are responsible for offering technical support to approved projects, with the support of external consultants. Indicative examples of PDA services are available below.

     

    Due diligence assessment

    • Project maturity assessment
    • Technical due diligence
    • Bankability assessment

    Financial services

    • Business plan and financial plans
    • Market analysis
    • Financial forecasts

    Technical services

    • Support in the preparation of applications
    • Concept development support
    • Economic analysis
    • Engineering, procurement and implementation support

    Selected projects

    We have provided project development assistance to projects in Europe through our large and small-scale calls in 2020 and 2021. see the lists below for an overview:

    Find out more on the website of the European Commission.

    By the numbers

    Projects benefitting from the Innovation Fund

    2021

    MEIGA

    Country: Spain
    Category: Low carbon fuels
    Project promoters:
    Iberdrola Clientes S.A.U. (ES)
    Foresa Industrias Químicas del Noroeste S.A. (ES)

    Located in Galicia, MEIGA project is conceived as a door-opener that will deploy innovative integrated technological approaches clustered in a unique integrated plant, based on:

    • an innovative hybridised H2 production system comprising Alkaline, PEM, SOEC and Co-SOEC systems,
    • an advanced CO2-capture system integrating chemical based and direct air capture technologies; and
    • an integrated self-sustainable e-methanol production system (considering electrolyser waste heat use as well as oxygen use and water circularity in the overall facility).

    These approaches will allow materialising three highly competitive outcomes, establishing a new paradigm in the sector: enhanced production performance, improved operational flexibility and competitive production costs.

    The operational capacity of the e-methanol production plant will be of 100 000 tons of e-methanol per year, avoiding more than two million tCO2e in 10 years. The selected location is a representative scenario, being the first milestone of an ambitious plan to replicate the concept in 11 sites. Iberdrola Clientes S.A.U and Foresa Industrias químicas del Noroeste S.A. will count on their vast experience in engineering projects, which, coupled with the technical, financial (cost-attractive business model) and operational (market deployment) maturity of the technology, will ensure its success.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund third large-scale call after its re-application under the name GREEN MEIGA.

    LESSCO SURFACES

    Country: Spain
    Category: Glass, ceramics & construction material
    Project promoter: Cosentino Industrial SAU (ES)

    LessCO Surfaces are a new generation of Low-Emission Construction surfaces obtained through ‘Circular Technology Quarry’ for a more sustainable European raw materials industry.

    The main objective of the project is to implement a disruptive manufacturing plant, the so-called ’Circular Technology Quarry’, designed with the main objective of producing new circular raw materials from more efficient waste valorisation processes.

    Thanks to this project, the raw materials currently used to manufacture engineered stone will be replaced by much more sustainable alternatives achieved by the upcycling of the by-products and the sludge waste generated in the production process, reducing drastically the end-product’s carbon footprint, the amount of waste generated, improving at the same time the working conditions of workers by using new and circular raw materials without the health risks associated to the current ones.

    The project, the first of its kind worldwide, is expected to be replicated in other industries and sectors, which will have an enormous impact in terms of costs, emissions and health.

    SALAMANDRE

    Country: France
    Category: Low carbon fuels
    Project promoter: Storengy, a company of ENGIE (FR)

    The SALAMANDRE project aims to produce renewable and low carbon methane as an alternative fuel for the maritime sector by using local waste wood grade B and SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel) as feedstock. It responds to the challenges of maritime transport decarbonization, waste recovery and energy autonomy, while facilitating the transition towards a circular economy.

    SALAMANDRE is based on a unique combination of technological innovations implemented by ENGIE with two main process bricks: pyrogasification and methanation reactors. The produced renewable and low carbon methane will be injected in the gas network and delivered into container ships as fuel, replacing fossil Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). ENGIE's objective is to make the first commercial waste-to-gas project at an industrial scale in Europe, and thus contribute to decarbonizing the gas sector.

    FSONE

    Country: Sweden
    Category: Low carbon fuels
    Project promoter: FlagshipONE AB (Ørsted A/S) (SE)

    Located in Örnsköldsvik in Northern Sweden, FlagshipONE is Europe’s largest FID’ed green e-methanol facility. FlagshipONE is expected to enter into operation in 2025 and will produce around 50 000 tonnes of e-methanol each year to help decarbonise the world’s shipping industry. Global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, and the sector is a focus area for Ørsted, as the company expands its presence in Power-to-X across Northern Europe and the United States.

    The project will be located on the grounds of the biomass-fired combined heat and power plant Hörneborgsverket in Örnsköldsvik, operated by Övik Energi. The e-methanol from FlagshipONE will be produced using renewable electricity and biogenic carbon dioxide captured from Hörneborgsverket. In addition, FlagshipONE will use steam, process water, and cooling water from Hörneborgsverket. Excess heat from the e-methanol production process will be delivered back to Övik Energi and integrated in their district heating supply.

    DEFUEL

    Country: Denmark
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoter: CP Kelco ApS (DK)

    The DeFuel project will demonstrate a full decarbonisation of a fully fossil fuel dependent industrial process plant before 2029. The decarbonization will be done by implementing several innovative process integrations and electrification solutions, which will reduce the energy consumption by 70%. A full decarbonisation goes beyond both the national climate strategies and EU climate policy objectives and lifts the bar beyond state of the art for industrial process design.

    The project will challenge the production and the internal/external energy infrastructure, and demonstrate how state-of-the-art technology can be combined in innovative solutions, which will challenge and set new standard for carbon efficient industrial design.

    The high efficiency is achieved by a demand-driven design that combines intelligent process integration and heat pump technology in several systems that match the specific process demands.

    The innovative solutions demonstrated in the DeFuel project are fully scalable and will demonstrate how a significant part of European energy intensive industry can reduce the energy consumption significantly through electrification and become independent of natural gas supplies.

    GIGAGREEN

    Country: Norway
    Category: Energy Storage
    Project promoter: Freyr Battery Norway AS (NO)

    The project concerns the construction and operation of a large plant for industrial scale production of clean lithium-ion (li-ion) battery cells in Norway. The cells are to be sold for making Battery Energy Storage Systems. The project seeks to implement an innovative manufacturing process technology under a technology license agreement that will allow higher resource and energy efficiency compared to conventional technologies. Using renewable power, the project aims to produce battery cells with the lowest carbon footprint. The promoter aims to use sustainably sourced and traceable materials. The project's core strategy is to develop a European battery industry and accelerate the decarbonisation of energy and transportation systems.

    The project concerns the manufacturing of a new type of advanced li-ion electrodes and battery cells and could make a substantial contribution to the development of a European battery industry. The objective is to cater for the energy transition by supplying the growing demand for Battery Energy Storage Systems with cutting-edge battery cells that offer higher energy density, longer lifetime, improved safety, lower cost, sustainably sourced materials and near-zero carbon footprint.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund third large-scale call after its re-application under the name Giga Arctic.

    CCSPRINOSGR

    Country: Greece
    Category: Carbon Capture and Storage
    Project promoter: Energean Oil and Gas, S.A. (GR)

    The Prinos CCS project is a third-party open access carbon storage site located offshore in the Northern Aegean Sea, Greece (Kavala gulf area). The project aims to receive CO2 emissions from industrial activities, including hard to abate industries,  for example cement and refining, from Greece and regions such as South Italy, West Balkans and Bulgaria. The CO2 will be stored permanently in geological formations beneath the seabed. The Prinos CCS project has a potential storage capacity of up to 100 million tonnes of CO2. Local CO2 is expected to be received in compressed form, and remote CO2 is expected to be received in liquid form through sea transport.

    The project was awarded an exploration permit under Directive 2009/31/EC in September 2022 and shall be developed in stages. The first phase will have a capacity of up to one MTPA, covering own and local emissions and acting as a test operation and monitoring scheme. The Full Commercial (second) phase of the project is due to become operational in 2028. The injection capacity to be made available in the second phase shall be subject to technical feasibility and binding market demand. 

    Eurogreen Seaways

    Country: Sweden, Belgium
    Category: Energy Intensive Industries, Shipping
    Project promoters: 
    AB DFDS Seaways (Lithuania)
    DFDS A/S (Denmark)

    The large-scale demonstration project will form a crucial backbone of the leading European shipping and logistic company, as DFDS Group aims to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45-50% until 2030, compared to 2008-level, to become climate-neutral by 2050. In line with the EU Green Deal, EU Innovation Fund and future Emission Trading System (ETS) requirements, the proposed project covers the preparation, construction, and operation of four large-scale hybrid e-ammonia electric RoRo ships, that shall be established on existing intra-European freight transport routes connecting Scandinavia with mainland Europe and serve the pan-European maritime network of DFDS in the future.

    The large-scale project will demonstrate the introduction of breakthrough innovative ship propulsion technology (from TRL 5 to TRL 8/9) and the regular use of advanced fuels (e-ammonia, bio-fuel) in combination with large-scale on-board electrification. The hybrid e-ammonia electric ship solutions are sufficiently mature and have significant potentials to reduce GHG emissions of maritime transport, and thereby supporting the Union’s aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and its GHG emission reduction targets for 2030 of at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. During the 10-year monitoring period, the proposed project will avoid approximately 2.9 million tons of CO2eq. The relevant project costs are 460 million EUR.

    In course of the project implementation (start in 01/2024), with entry of full commercial operation in 01/2029, and until the proposed project’s end in 12/2038, very high scalability and cross-sector/EU-wide innovation impacts are expected, providing significant EU added values.

    H2-LSE-TGNA

    Country: Spain
    Category: Hydrogen
    Project promoter: Repsol Renewable and Circular Solutions, S.A.

    The project concerns a green hydrogen production plant with a 150 MW alkaline electrolyser and 8 tonnes hydrogen storage.

    The plant is located in the Tarragona industrial area, in Spain. The plant will generate green hydrogen and oxygen to be used by local off-takers.

    A battery storage system is considered in order to optimize the operation of the plant that will be supplied with electricity from the network through Power Purchase Agreements with renewable resources.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund third large-scale call after its re-application under the name T-HYNET, Tarragona Hydrogen Network.

    H2Pole

    Country: Spain
    Category: Hydrogen
    Project promoter: Reganosa Asset Investments, S.L.U.

    H2Pole is an industrial deployment where a 100 MW electrolysis plant will be installed. The plant, expected to be operative in early 2026, will develop a hydrogen valley in the northwest of Spain (Galicia) to attend aggregated local demand and make renewable hydrogen accessible to all users.

    The aim of the project is to develop the value chain of hydrogen, providing the region with its first stable and accessible market of renewable hydrogen. The main use will consider hydrogen as energy vector to decarbonise industrial processes and in mobility sector.

    The H2Pole, located in the Just Transition area of As Pontes de García Rodríguez and nearby the Port of Ferrol, will have a positive impact on economic growth of the region and a significant spillover effect in small and medium companies, acquiring experience and know-how, and creating opportunities for development of new business models and services associated to the hydrogen value chain.

    The first phase of the project has been awarded with a funding from the Spanish national programme “H2 Pioneros” in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan - Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.

    Wasteel

    Country: France
    Category: Iron & Steel
    Project promoters: 
    SUEZ RV France
    ArcelorMittal Méditerrannée

    The Wasteel project aims to produce a combustible recovery gas by diverting waste from landfill to a valorisation process.

    The proposed project replaces fossil natural gas currently used to heat steel to high temperatures, in the ArcelorMittal’s steel plant of Fos-sur-Mer, by purified syngas produced from Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).

    Wasteel involves a gasification technology producing syngas from local waste prepared under the form of RDF. The syngas is cleaned and purified by dedicated process steps to match ArcelorMittal specification and ensure a safe combustion.

    FinFiber

    Country: Finland
    Category: Chemicals
    Project promoter: Infinited Fiber Company OY

    Finnish Infinited Fiber Company’s patented cellulose carbamate technology transforms cotton-rich textile waste otherwise destined to landfills or incinerators into new, virgin-quality textile fibers called Infinna™. Scientifically known as cellulose carbamate fiber, Infinna™ is a high-quality, circular alternative to conventional fibers like cotton, viscose and polyester. Produced through responsible, MRSL ZDHC compliant chemistry, Infinna™ is recyclable, biodegradable and contains no microplastics.

    Infinited Fiber Company aims with the project FinFiber to scale its groundbreaking textile-to-textile recycling technology to industrial level and build the first commercial-scale Infinna™ fiber factory in Kemi, Northern Finland. The factory will have an annual production capacity of 30 000 metric tons of Infinna™ and create 270 direct jobs in the Kemi area. The majority of the future factory´s production capacity has already been sold for several years ahead to leading fashion and apparel brands. The FinFiber project accelerates textile circularity and is in line with the objectives of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.

    Currently, there are no other commercial chemical recycling solutions available allowing for large-scale conversion of 100% textile waste feedstock directly into textile fibers within the same process, as most of the other solutions in the market are either unable to utilise 100% textile waste as raw material or produce an intermediate pulp, which needs to be subsequently processed into fibers in a separate process.

    CCU-4-PCC

    Country: Estonia
    Category: Cement & Lime
    Project promoter: R-S OSA Service OÜ

    Estonia-based Ragn-Sells have developed an innovative solution to turn deposited oil shale ash into ultra-pure calcium carbonate, while simultaneously capturing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the material. 

    The first-of-a-kind plant will be constructed in Ida-Viru county, Estonia, and will have an annual capacity of 530 000 tons of novel calcium carbonate, capturing and avoiding over 260 000 tons of CO2 per year. By utilising the waste and using CO2 as raw material, the project will contribute to the production of green raw materials while also removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

    The technology, which was developed by Ragn-Sells, TalTech and The University of Tartu, incorporates the principle of circularity and zero waste. The plant does not emit exhaust gases since there is no combustion process, while the water used is in constant circulation and all by-products are recovered to create new products.

    CO2 Battery

    Country: Italy
    Category: Energy storage
    Project promoters:
    A2A Spa
    Energy Dome SPA

    The project CO2 Battery concerns a standard commercial utility-scale storage plant based on a CO2 thermodynamic cycle (during charging, CO2 is stored as a liquid; when energy is needed, the CO2 warms up, evaporates and expands to drive a turbine and generate electricity).

    The plant will be built in Italy and will have a capacity of about 18 MW and 200 MWh. The plant aims at providing services to the Italian transmission System Operator and participating in the electricity wholesale market.

    2020

    BHYPER COMMUNITY

    Country: Portugal
    Category: Solar energy
    Project promoter: Hyperion Energy Investments SGPS SA (PT)

    The BHyPER Community project is a hydrogen production plant that aims to produce green hydrogen through an electrolysis process fed from a renewable and non-polluting source (solar energy). The project will contribute to the Portuguese targets for the gradual introduction of green hydrogen in the various aspects of the Portuguese economy, making it a sustainable and integrated pillar of the National Hydrogen Strategy “EN-H2”.

    The project will be the first of its kind in Portugal, delivering green hydrogen and electricity to the local economy, while offering flexibility to the electricity network through the provision of reserves power.

    SUN2STORE

    Country: Spain
    Category: Intra-day electricity storage
    Project promoters:
    Malta Iberia Pumped Heat Electricity Storage S.L.U. (ES)
    Alfa Laval Corporate AB (SE)
    Siemens Gas and Power GmbH & Co. KG (DE)

    The Sun2Store project develops, implements and operates an innovative pumped heat electricity storage system of 100 MWe net AC discharge power with 10 hours capacity. The storage system stores on a daily basis solar PV electricity during solar surplus hours and feeds this stored electricity back to the grid as required for covering the residual load curve to avoid renewable energy curtailment.

    The storage innovation consists in combining novel heat pump technology with molten salt thermal storage, well proven in Spanish concentrating solar power plants, and thus making this long duration utility scale storage technology competitively applicable for solar PV and wind power generators. Beside its cost advantage compared to other existing technologies, such as battery storage, the benefits of the pumped heat electricity storage for the grid include the ability to provide dispatchable reserve power with rotating turbine equipment, fast ramping, reactive power and synchronous inertia.

    The storage solution would be the first of its kind in Europe. 

    WAVE

    Country: France
    Category: Other
    Project promoter: Chantiers de l'Atlantique (FR)

    Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the largest shipyard in Europe and a leader in energy and environment efficiencies through its dedicated Ecorizon® R&D Programme, has developed a large sailing cruise ship concept featuring an innovating wind propulsion technology. This new system, consisting of large sails in composite panels mounted on a 80 meters-tall rig, will allow cruise vessels to reduce their GHG emissions up to 45%, compared to similar conventional ships. It will also be transferable to other kinds of large ships, such as bunker vessels and tankers.

    The WAVE (Wind Assisted VEssels) project aims to deploy on the market the first ship applications of this wind propulsion concept by 2024-2025.

    GRAVISTORE

    Country: Czech Republic
    Category: Intra-day electricity storage
    Project promoters:
    Gravitricity Ltd (UK)
    Huisman Equipment B.V (NL)
    ILF Consulting Engineers Austria GmbH (AT)
    Frank Bold s.r.o (CZ)
    Viridicore s.r.o (CZ)
    Institute of Geonics of the CAS (CZ)
    RAG Mining Solutions GmbH (DE)
    GA Energo s.r.o. (CZ)

    The GraviSTORE project comprises a gravity-based electrical energy storage system and focuses on the deployment of a prototype in the Moravian Silesian Region of the Czech Republic.

    This first of its kind project will utilise Gravitricity’s highly innovative Multi MW technology to operate at grid scale, storing and releasing energy by raising and lowering solid weights within a disused mineshaft.

    The acquired learning and knowledge building will pave the way for future commercial roll-out of the technology, which has exceptional cyclability and offers significant circular economy benefits through the re-use of closing mine infrastructure.

    LISALT

    Country: France
    Category: Other energy storage
    Project promoter: ARKEMA FRANCE SA (FR)

    Arkema’s LION Project aims to develop and upscale an innovative production process that allows the cost-optimised and environmentally friendly production of an ultra-pure electrolyte salt. It will improve batteries’ safety and fit perfectly with high voltages and fast charge batteries within either the present or future battery technologies.

    Lion project is part of the IPCEI Batteries and participates in establishing a complete innovative and competitive battery value chain within the EU.

    CESAR

    Country: Germany
    Category: Other energy storage
    Project promoter: Black Magic GmbH (DE)

    Black Magic GmbH is the only producer of Curved Graphene globally. Curved Graphene is a form of carbon used to achieve remarkably high energy density in energy storage technology, outperforming current batteries in many parameters.

    The CESAR-E project, will develop and upscale Curved Graphene synthesis production technology for cost reduction and thus widen the field of application. The broader market penetration of Curved Graphene will lead to an expected cost reduction and to significant GHG emissions savings, especially in the automotive sector, through reducing fuel consumption in hybrid vehicles and increasing battery life in electric vehicles. 

    GHG-PU

    Country: Netherlands
    Category: Energy-intensive industries
    Project promoter: InSus B.V. (NL)

    The project plans to construct a large-scale recycling plant to recover (H)CFC’s and propane propellants from rigid polyurethane foam. These propellants were historically used as blowing agents for rigid polyurethane foam insulation and (H)CFC’s are extremely strong greenhouse gases. The (H)CFC propellants are rendered harmless in this process and the pentane propellant is recovered for reuse. The process also recovers the foam for reuse.

    The project development assistance (PDA) scope will be a market study to identify the business potential of deploying this technology across the 27 EU Member States. The objective of the PDA will be to increase the maturity of the project by establishing the current and future market potential.

    TRISKELION

    Country: Spain
    Category: CO2 transport and storage
    Project promoter: Forestal del Atlántico, S.A. (ES)

    TRISKELION, located in the Northeast of Spain (Mugardos, Galicia) is an innovative renewable methanol manufacturing project that combines and integrates different technologies at industrial scale: CO2 Capture through an amine-based absorption-desorption system in an existing cogeneration; Alkaline electrolysis, powered by electrical energy provided by a wind farm connected in a virtual system; Synthesis of methanol, carried out in a single reactor using Cu-ZnO base catalysts, and distillation of methanol.

    The aim is to obtain a final product with a quality similar to that of fossil methanol which will allow the use of existing logistics chain and industrial facilities currently used for fossil methanol.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund third large-scale call after its re-application.

    NEF

    Country: Norway
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoters:
    Norsk e-Fuel AS (NO)
    Paul Wurth S.A. (LU)
    Valinor AS (NO)
    Sunfire GmbH (DE)
    Climeworks AG (CH)

    NEF, located in Norway and led by Norsk e-Fuel AS, industrialises the world’s first-of-a-kind large-scale Power-to-Liquid (PtL) process, integrating efficient conversion technologies to produce renewable jet fuel (e-Fuel) from 100% renewable electricity, water and CO2. The multi-step process will include:

    • CO2 capture via direct air capture (DAC)
    • Syngas production
    • Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis to produce the renewable fuel
    • product upgrading to maximise the jet fuel fraction within the product stream

    The plant is based on alkaline electrolysis and Reverse-Water-Gas-Shift reactors, and integrating high temperature co-electrolysis based on solid oxide electrolyser cell technology – Co-SOEC. The project will reach a relative GHG emission avoidance of 99%.

    ETHOS

    Country: Italy
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoter: VERSALIS S.P.A. (IT)

    ETHOS objectives are the design, construction and operation of innovative units for onsite cellulolytic enzyme manufacturing and high-quality lignin production in an integrated large scale 2nd generation cellulosic bioethanol demonstration plant in Crescentino (Vercelli, Italy) with Versalis’ proprietary technology, capable of converting lignocellulosic biomass from forestry residues into bioethanol for the biofuel sector and high-quality lignin co-product suitable for bio-based composite plastics.

    ETHOS will create a new bio-circular business model obtained from the simultaneous production of a 2nd generation advanced biofuel (bioethanol) and an advanced biopolymer (lignin), able to substitute fossil derivatives in relevant fuels and plastics markets, contributing significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.

    EQUIGY CBP

    Country: Netherlands, Germany, Italy
    Category: Energy storage
    Project promoter: Equigy B.V. (NL)

    Equigy aims to play a key role in accelerating the energy transition and integrating the energy system. With its European crowd balancing platform, Equigy’s objective is to create a trusted data exchange to allow aggregators to participate with smaller flexibility devices, such as home batteries and electric vehicles, in electricity balancing markets, turning consumers into prosumers.

    Equigy submitted a proposal to the Innovation Fund on October 2020, seeking a grant to develop key functionalities that would boost growth and lower the barriers for Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and market parties to adopt the Crowd Balancing Platform (CBP) across Europe.

    Owned by five leading European transmission system operators, Equigy aims to set cross-industry standards throughout Europe, to support a future-proof, reliable and cost-effective power system that is independent of fossil fuel-based flexibility sources.

    Download the market analysis on the relevance of Equigy’s Crowd Balancing Platform

    OXY-COMBUSTION (GREENBPP)

    Country: Germany
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoters:
    AtlasInvest Holding (BE)
    Tree Energy Solutions (BE)

    TES (Tree Energy Solutions) is a green and clean hydrogen company that supplies long-term non-intermittent carbon neutral energy at industrial scale. TES’s prime objective is to replace the fossil gas system by importing green gas (CH4) produced using green hydrogen generated from solar photovoltaics in the solar belt, as well as to introduce CO2 circularity. In Wilhelmshaven, TES is building Germany's first Green Energy Hub, which will enable the import of 250 TWh of green gas by 2045. The Green Energy Hub will also incorporate the installation of a FOAK Oxy-combustion power plant (GREENBPP project) combined with an integrated CCS chain (Carbon Capture and Storage). It will be deployed at full industrial scale (550 MWth/284 MWe) aiming to avoid 8.6 million tons of CO2 over 10 years at full capacity. TES is a private Belgian company, backed up by the investment company AtlasInvest.

    HYDROGEN EU-ROPAX

    Countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoters:
    DFDS AS (DK)
    Hexagon Composites ASA (NO)
    ABB Ltd. (SE)
    Ballard Power Systems Inc. (DK)
    Lloyd's Register Group Services Limited (UK)
    Knud E. Hansen (DK)
    Ørsted (DK)
    Danish Ship Finance (DK)

    The HYDROGEN EU-ROPAX project aims at designing and constructing a Hydrogen FuelCell powered ROPAX vessel connecting main EU ports.

    Current vessels of this size run on traditional marine fossil fuel. In line with the EU Green Deal and Innovation Fund, the zero-emission vessel powered by a large-scale fuel cell system (23 MW) will exclusively use green hydrogen from renewable sources, allowing for a 100% GHG emission avoidance compared to the state of play.

    Beside the technical design and construction, the project will also analyse and develop financial models and hydrogen-sourcing strategies for the implementation of large-scale Hydrogen powered ROPAX vessels.

    Over the 10 year monitoring period, the project/vessel will avoid more than 600 000 tons of CO2e.

    SUN2HY

    Country: Spain
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoters:
    SUNRGYZE S.L. (ES)
    REPSOL SA (ES)
    ENAGÁS S.A. (ES)

    SUN2HY project, the first-of-a-kind large-scale plant based on photo-electro-catalytic technology for hydrogen production, is focused on demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and robustness of the photo-electrochemical (PEC) technology.

    The novelty behind PEC technology lies in the capacity to directly convert solar energy to chemical energy, by splitting water in its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen, thanks to the direct use of solar energy without external energy input, providing a sustainable alternative route for hydrogen.

    The large industrial implementation of the technology would reduce significantly the cost per kg of green hydrogen being competitive versus the conventional process (SMR – Steam Methane Reformer) and bringing the reduction of the carbon footprint of hydrogen production. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the first PEC pre-commercial plant in the world with a production capacity of 3 650 t H2/year. During 20 years of operation, the plant will avoid 664 067.2 t CO2. The plant will be located close to the refinery of Repsol in Puertollano, Spain. 

    2021

    SynBioS

    Country: Italy
    Category: Energy storage and Carbon capture utilisation (CCU) technology
    Project promoter: Gruppo HERA (IT)

    Syngas Biological Storage (SynBioS) is a Power-to-Methane plant for the use of excess renewable energy, transformed into biomethane and reused in the urban methane distribution network. The project will be integrated with urban/industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and is potentially scalable to other types of production processes.

    A 1 MWel Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer is planned to be installed to produce green hydrogen through water electrolysis. The hydrogen is subsequently converted to CH4 by combining CO2 to the biogas produced at WWTP, within a special biological methanator. The project includes a biogas upgrading line, the purpose of which is to remove most of the CO2 from the biogas stream to obtain a high-methane stream.

    CUSTARD

    Country: Italy
    Category: Iron & Steel
    Project promoters:
    ACCIAIERIE BERTOLI SAFAU SpA
    DANIELI OFFICINE MECCANICHE SpA

    The CUSTARD project utilises carbon dioxide captured from flue gases of a Steel plant (Acciaierie Bertoli Safau SpA) to produce Sodium Bicarbonate.

    An integrated system comprising of a flue gas conditioning step followed by a reaction step will capture CO2 from the flue gas of a reheating furnace. A further reaction step with caustic soda will produce sodium bicarbonate.

    The process will capture CO2 and use waste heat from the steel plant to produce sodium bicarbonate, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint compared to the traditional process.

    The technology is scalable and can be used to decarbonise other hard-to-abate sectors.

    CoSHIP

    Country: Denmark
    Category: Solar energy
    Project promoter: Heliac A/S

    Heliac has developed a novel concept for producing medium-temperature concentrated solar heat (CSH) in the temperature range up to potentially 425°C. The temperature interval between 100°C and 200°C is especially interesting to Heliac, due to the large volume of demand at this level, Heliac’s ability to produce this heat at costs below fossil fuels, and because heat in this range is difficult to produce by other renewable methods at acceptable cost. Heat in this range is typically used in district heating networks and industrial processes, where the carrier is either pressurised water or steam. An estimated 10% of the global energy consumption is used in this range and is mainly supplied by fossil fuels today.

    The innovation is based on Heliac’s patented ability to manufacture large Fresnel-type lenses with a glass-silicone compound technology with very high productivity, low cost and long durability.

    The objective of this project is to install and operate two First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) commercial-scale solar collectors to demonstrate the potential of Heliac's innovative technology for the generation of industrial process heat and district heating at temperatures between 100°C and 200°C, with pilot customers in different sectors in Southern Europe.

    2020

    GREENHYSEO

    Country: Italy
    Category: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology
    Project promoters: FNM S.P.A (IT)

    The GreenHyseO Project is part of "H2iseO: a Hydrogen valley for sustainable mobility”, a project promoted by FNM S.p.A., that aims at creating the first Italian Hydrogen Valley and decarbonizing rail and bus transport in Valcamonica.

    FNM S.p.A. will introduce a green hydrogen-powered fleet of 14 trains and 40 buses, including the construction of the hydrogen production plants, and the distribution and refuelling stations:

    • a hydrogen production, storage, and distribution plant in the city of Iseo, using the Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) technology starting from biomethane, and the innovative addition of Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology,
    • one or two hydrogen production, storage and distribution plants using electrolysis in the cities of Brescia and Edolo.

    The focus of the GreenHyseO project is on the CCS technology for the Iseo hydrogen production plant.

    HYPUSH

    Country: France
    Category: Substitute products
    Project promoter: NEoT Green Mobility (FR)

    The project concerns the construction of a hydrogen pusher to navigate in Paris, replacing the existing pusher. It will have similar capacities allowing CEMEX to push barges with a capacity of up to 2 600 tons.

    It is especially designed to navigate on the Seine river, with a propulsion using electric energy from two hydrogen fuel cells and a lithium battery. Particular care has been taken in the design of the hull to keep the wake to a minimum. 

    NEoT Green Mobility is working with CEMEX to set up an innovative financing solution including performance guarantees for the zero emission energy system.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund second small-scale call after its re-application.

    ZERO CARBON GYPSUM

    Country: Latvia
    Category: Renewable energy; Energy intensive industries
    Project promoter: AS ETGAS (LV)

    The scope of the “Zero Carbon Gypsum” project is to facilitate a transition of an energy-intensive gypsum plasterboard manufacturing site from natural gas use to renewable on-site generated synthesis gas (syngas), generated from local waste biomass using proprietary gasification technology.

    This first-of-a-kind project is being developed in Latvia, at KNAUF Latvia plasterboard manufacturing plant's territory, and the project's feasibility is enabled by gasification technology's ability to convert otherwise non-recyclable waste fractions to high-purity renewable syngas at lowest costs in industry.

    By applying carbon capture from syngas in further project phases, eventually a carbon-negative gas will be delivered, demonstrating the decarbonisation pathway in such an energy intensive industry as plasterboard manufacturing, without requirement to retrofit existing manufacturing asset base.

    TRUCK2WIND

    Country: Spain
    Category: Intra-day electricity storage
    Project promoter: Green Capital Power SL (ES)

    The aim of TRUCK2WIND project is the integration of a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) including first and second-life batteries in a renewable energy plant in Spain. This first-of-a-kind project will demonstrate the advantages of the integration of first- and second-life batteries by evaluating the feasibility and performance of the hybrid solution and its potentiality for the participation in different grid services. This project will validate the circularity of EV batteries, while providing flexibility to the energy system leading to achieve a higher degree of decarbonisation.

    In line with its commitment to a green and fair energy transition, Capital Energy currently has a portfolio of wind and solar projects in the Iberian Peninsula with around 30 GW capacity. More than 8 GW have already received network access grants. Capital Energy is already present on the entire renewable energy value chain: from development to construction, production, storage, operation and supply.

    CO2MADE

    Country: Germany
    Category: Carbon capture utilisation (CCU) technology
    Project promoter: Twelve Benefit Corporation (DE)

    Twelve has developed a technology that enables the energy efficient conversion of CO2 from any source into CO that can be used to produce high-value products.

    The purpose of the CO2Made project is to obtain industrial validation of the technology's potential in turning CO2 into PC-based car parts that form the internal structure of Mercedes-Benz cars - with significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than conventional production.

    This innovation can reduce the carbon footprint of the world's heavy emitting industries while creating a new revenue stream from what is discarded today as a waste product.

    The EIB is working with Twelve Benefit Corporation to fund the development of a financial model and market analysis for this technology and project.

    CO2NCREAT

    Country: Belgium
    Category: Carbon capture utilisation (CCU) & Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology
    Project promoters:
    Prefer Construct SA (Prefer) (BE)
    Carrières et Fours à Chaux Dumont-Wautier SA (Lhoist) (BE)
    Orbix Solutions SRL (Orbix) (BE)

    The main objective of the CO2ncrEAT project is to offer to the construction sector a new line of carbon negative pre-cast materials such as masonry blocks, with the same dimensional, visual and mechanical characteristics as current concrete products.

    This project offers a sustainable and environmentally sound alternative to the traditional manufacturing process of concrete elements, which entails high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The products created as a result of CO2ncrEAT will replace the cement and natural aggregates in their composition with non-valorised residues from slag recycling centres and CO2 captured from the exhaust gases from the lime manufacturing process.

    CO2ncrEAT offers a sustainable solution for CO2 use and sequestration (CCU & CCS) because, once the captured CO2 is mineralised into building materials, it cannot be liberated again to the atmosphere.

    The project has been pre-selected for receiving a grant under the Innovation Fund second small-scale call after its re-application.

      Find out more about the project in the blog article.

    FOUNDRY SAND RECYCLER (FRFS)

    Country: Germany, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Spain
    Category: Energy intensive industries
    Project promoter: Finn Recycling Oy (FI)

    Finn Recycling’s recycling service for waste foundry sand has been in commercial use for foundries in Finland since 2018.

    After several years of research, Finn recycling has developed and patented a process that combines thermal and mechanical methods in one single modular unit. This breakthrough innovation allows the use of thermal-mechanical regeneration for even the most difficult sand types to be reclaimed. Currently, alternative systems that use thermal fluidized bed regenerators cannot regenerate green sand without a two-stage mechanical treatment preceding and following the thermal process, which removes the clay attached to the surface of the sand grains.

    Finn Recycling uses a unique Sand-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, which has the advantage to be asset-light, to require low investment, and be an easy-to-start solution for customers, who can test the service in advance and can profit from quick installation without the need for a long production break. Thanks to this new system, the need for new, virgin sand is reduced by up to 90%, with consequent decrease in sand acquisition costs, as well as significant improvement of waste sand problem and the foundry’s CO2 footprint.

    This service is now being expanded in the first phase to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

    HIISI I BIOCHAR

    Country: Finland
    Category: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology
    Project promoter: Carbo Culture Oy (FI)

    Carbo Culture aims to build and operate a state-of-the-art biochar facility in Finland. Biochar is the product of biomass pyrolysation and fixes the carbon in a stable, functional material.

    The proposed facility “Alpha” will advance proprietary pyrolysis technology to a commercial scale. The proven process accommodates variable biomass feedstocks and produces high quality biochar with desirable materials properties, for example high fixed carbon content, and is stable for more than 1 000 years, storing carbon safely. The innovative biochar method has high added value when compared to traditional biochar value chains.

    The high quality biochar can be used as a soil improver to reduce fertiliser use, and as material for blue/green infrastructure, construction materials and other functional applications. Additionally, the project will sell verified carbon removal credits and the syngas produced from the process.

    In focus

    Masonry blocks that eat carbon

    Four companies from Belgium get together in a local, circular economy project using byproducts of steelmaking to create a masonry block that cuts carbon dioxide emissions.

    But development of an innovative industrial project is very expensive. The four companies put the cost at €7.5 million. So they wanted to get backing from the Innovation Fund.

    After its first application to the Innovation Fund, CO2ncrEAT received support from experts on the European Investment Bank’s Innovation Fund team.

      Read the full story  

    CO2ncrEAT