• Energy Research
• European Commission close
• 2017 close

Investments in energy efficiency in the residential sector (27% of EU final energy demand) may also provide economic benefits at different levels of the economy. These benefits may not be realized because of barriers, which are typically reflected in implied discount rates. BRISKEE (Behavioural Response to Investment Risks in Energy Efficiency) provides evidence-based input to energy efficiency policy design and evaluation, thereby supporting the market uptake of energy efficiency technologies in the EU residential sector. It contributes to the work programme by addressing the interrelations between microeconomic factors, sectoral energy demand and macroeconomic effects, relying on a consistent methodological framework implemented in 5 work packages: • Provide empirical evidence for the magnitudes of discount rates accounting for differences across households, technologies and countries, and assess their effects on the diffusion of efficiency technologies in the EU (micro-level). A multi-country survey (1000 interviews per country) will be carried out and analyzed econometrically. • Explore the impact of time discounting and risk preferences (and of policies affecting those factors) on the diffusion of energy efficient technology and energy demand in the EU residential sector until 2030 (meso-level). Established bottom-up vintage stock models will be employed for appliances (FORECAST-Residential) and for buildings (Invert/EE-Lab). • Explore the macro-level impacts of changes in microeconomic decision-making and of energy efficiency policy on employment, GDP and exports in the EU until 2030. This involves simulations with an established macro-economic model for the EU (ASTRA). • Provide evidence-based recommendations for key energy efficiency policies and input for impact assessments and policy analysis at the three levels of analysis. • Communicate and disseminate empirical findings to policy makers, national experts, the research community and the general public.

The Integrated Roof Wind Energy System (IRWES) is the breakthrough solution overcoming all shortcomings of existing renewable energy solutions. IRWES is a roof-mounted, elegant structure with an internal – nonvisible – turbine making smart use of aerodynamics. It is more efficient than any existing urban windmill, and more efficient per area than PV panels when mounted on roofs higher than 20m. This novel system has highest efficiency based on IP protected and tested technology (TRL6). It reduces the payback time by effectively producing electric power in both high and low wind speeds resulting in both more efficiency and operational hours. The Netherlands counts 35.000 buildings suitable for application with attractive ROI, while greatest impact is achieved in Europe where 1/6 of the population lives in high-rise buildings. Customers have already committed to 25 units after demonstration. IRWES is a business opportunity ready for large growth, to serve the – until now – unreachable segment of local renewable energy supply to high buildings, while seamlessly aligning with the Horizon 2020 Work Programme objectives. Moreover, IRWES addresses European and global challenges such as reducing the risk of carbon “lock-in”, offering sustainable and affordable alternatives to rising electricity prices as well as closing the gap between R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship. Its market excellence is defined by meeting the important customer demands differentiating in aesthetical integration and customization; creating more value as an outstanding, attractive solution. Our business objectives have been outlined in 8 Work Packages to prepare the IRWES mass-market launch, positioning it as a game changing solution on the European market. Based on rigorous studies and feasibility assessments, already performed, we present a solid business plan that incorporates a commercialization strategy and a financing plan to underpin the foreseen market launch and growth strategy of IRWES.

The aim of the EK200-AWESOME project is to bring the EK200 to market - an integrated 100 kW container based airborne wind energy (AWE) converter and storage solution catering to off-grid applications and mobile end-uses. The EK200 can be deployed stand-alone or in arrays. The EK200 could also shape the future for AWE and provide basis and principles for up-scaled MW units Motivation The EK200 will add to renewables’ part of the energy-mix and support off-grid micro-grids providing distributed and diverse power sources for geographically remote communities or industrial activities Solution The physical height of conventional wind turbines is limited by the enormous stresses on the structure and by mechanical resonance phenomena. The EK200 will replace the most effective part of a conventional wind turbine, the tip of the rotor blade, by a tethered kite - operating economically even at low-wind onshore locations. USPs: * Low Cost of Secure Energy: Ultra high capacity factors, yielding > 5,000 full load hours pa * Portability and minimal interference: Less than 5% of the material resources used in a conventional wind mill with the same yield * Uninterrupted Power Supply: Tapping into stable and abundant high altitude winds * Ease of Maintenance: Least amount of moving airborne parts in the industry * Flexibility in Operation: Portable units. Smart control technology Project Outputs Commercialization of the EK200 is a high risk/high reward action. As a result we are conducting a Feasibility Study, resulting in a complete Business Plan, taking a into account end-user needs, market analysis, cost assessment, IP validation, pilot design and risk assessment - all feeding into our go-to-market strategy Opportunity High power reliability level and the need for an effective demand-response load management present a conducive ecosystem for off-grid to flourish. We seek to capture a share in this attractive market valued at EURbn 2.8 in 2014, growing to EURbn 6.3 in 2019

This project is a technical, economic and commercial feasibility assessment into a portable wind turbine for ships (the Hi-GEN) which will cut reliance on auxiliary, fossil fuel generators when ships are at anchor or in port (referred to as "downtime"). Fuel costs and green house gas emissions are significant issues for the shipping and fishing industries, especially during downtime. During downtime, ships use auxiliary fossil fuel generators to power the ships. Fossil fuel generators are expensive to run and produce harmful emissions including CO, CO2, CH4, NOX, PM, SOX and NMVOC. Shipping emissions in ports are substantial accounted for 18.3 million tonnes of CO2 emission in 2011. External costs of port emissions for the largest 50 ports is estimated at €12bn. Global fisheries accounts for 1.8% of total global oil consumption and international fishing contributes between 13 and 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Yet fishing vessels spend between 44% and 70% of the year NOT at sea. The objective of the overall project is to establish the Hi-GEN as a cost effective, environmentally friendly and preferred source of auxiliary power for commercial vessels during downtime. The overall objective of this study is to identify and consider all relevant factors into the economic and technical viability of the Hi-GEN. The Hi-GEN is an innovative and novel low carbon technology. IP is owned by the Company and currently patent pending with UK and PCT. Every vessel in the world which has a crane could benefit from using the Hi-GEN. The benefits would be significant: 1. Vessel owners could make significant savings on operating costs and achieve an economic payback of between 2 and 4 years (see case study below) 2.Marine industries could save up to 32 million litres of fuel and 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 per annum, boosting the blue economy 3. The company could add 40 new jobs and €24m of revenue over 4 years; a fraction of the total market potential of over €2bn

Wind power has established itself in recent years as a clean alternative to conventional sources of electrical generation.Reduced costs and wider deployment, especially in the European market, have led over the past decade to its use at sea. Here, the wind resource is larger and more constant, allowing higher unitary power turbines. However, the marine environment itself also imposes a number of restrictions and challenges. The technology that is being deployed now is fixed to the seabed, using different types of foundations, but a large amount of wind resources is in deeper waters, where floating solutions are needed. Because of their initial higher costs, these solutions are still under development, with only three prototypes installed worldwide. The challenge nowadays is to reduce the costs of floating wind turbine structures that will ease the access to a much larger energy potential than available in land, more easily manageable and with lower visual impact. The aim of the SATH project is the demonstration in real conditions of a floating structure for offshore wind which will allow a reduction in LCOE (Levelized Cost Of Energy) over the current floating technology. To achieve this, it is proposed as a first objective the validation and qualifying for this technology, of a 1:3 scaled prototype not only from a technical point of view but also from economic and necessary logistics. The SATH solution is a platform that consists of two cylindrical floats (of prestressed reinforced concrete) which can be manufactured onshore and transported and positioned at the final location in a single mooring point allowing the rotation of the platform around, self-aligning with the wind direction.

URBAN LEARNING gathers capitals and other large cities across Europe facing the common challenge of considerable population growth while being committed to significantly reduce fossil energy consumption and CO2 emissions. E.g. Stockholm grew by more than 12.000 people / a (1.5%); in the next 10 years Vienna has to build for 200.000 new people. Efficient and effective planning processes will be crucial for climbing this mountain. Vienna, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam/Zaanstad, Warsaw and Zagreb aim to enhance the capacity of their local authorities on integrative urban energy planning, as response to new challenges from EU EPBD and RES directives as well as to changes of technologies and market conditions and the pressure to provide sufficient, affordable homes. The focus is put on the governance processes related to the (re-)development of concrete sites. While some cities already started ambitious urban development projects, the institutionalisation of these experiences is missing - despite awareness and willingness, due to lack of knowledge, lack of time and the need for collaboration across departments, which is not a common practice in many administrations in Europe. External stimulus is needed to overcome these barriers, and to address these issues collectively with external key stakeholders, such as DNOs and energy suppliers, and across cities. Focus will be on multi-disciplinary learning – concentrating on innovative technological solutions, instruments and tools as well as on innovative governance elements - and to capitalise this learning to institutionalise integrative urban energy planning. Improving the governance processes is expected to have significant energy impacts on homes and workplaces to be built and refurbished for over 3 million more people in the participating cities in the next 20 years: more than 1.700 GWh/a of energy savings and over 2.000 GWh/a renewable energy produced. Special emphasis is put on knowledge transfer to 150 more cities.

TubeICE project deals with the design, industrialization and commercialization of an innovative Phase Change Material (PCM) tubular shaped PTES unit, able to store energy within the range 22-27°C. TubeICE unit is composed by a pipe shell where a Positive Temperature Eutectic solutions is packed: in summer, the storage unit exploits the temperature gradient between night and days, being charged during the night (when temperature is lower) thanks to the solidification of the PCM and discharged during the day by the liquefaction of the material, thus allowing a reduction of air conditioning energy consumption; in winter, TubeICE increases the thermal inertia of the building, being charged through material liquefaction when thermal energy is available. The technology developed and proposed by PCMPro delivers breakthrough properties: • thanks to the development of the innovative PCM and to a compact innovative design, the energy density is 73 kWh/m3, much higher than competing technologies; • installing the storage unit on the ceiling area, 12 tubes can be packed per m2 using standard 50mm pipe brackets, giving a storage of 1.74 kWh/m2; • the application of an eutectic alloy leads to a constant charging and discharging temperature, with benefits in terms of conditioning quality and easiness in storage management; • as already demonstrated by the first pilot installations in a number of offices/shops and in an educational facility located at Coventry in U.K., the integration of TubeICE leads to a global energy consumption reduction within the range 10-40% depending on the location and the building properties, thanks to the maximization of free-cooling (and the consequent reduction of energy intensive mechanical cooling) and to the nighttime free storage. • TubeICE is maintenance free and assures a long durability (10 years and more).