The MODERATOR project aims to improve the overall energy efficiency of data centres by developing an integrated system based on immersion cooling combined with novel and highly efficient long-term heat storage materials and systems. The main innovations of the project are related to the development and integration of individual components, which include (i) a novel designed immersion cooling system that enables heat recovery from data centres, (ii) a novel waste heat recovery (WHR) system using phase change materials (PCMs) for efficient low-temperature heat recovery, (iii) a highly efficient multilayer insulation system for thermal energy storage (TES) that uses recycled glass granules and microparticles to minimize heat losses and (iv) the integration of these components into an automated prototype for direct heat utilization and long-term storage. Furthermore, the project employs modeling and simulation activities, evaluation tools and dissemination methods to increase the exploitation potential of the developed technologies. The major outcome will be the operation and demonstration of a fully automated integrated prototype combining a 40 kW data centre immersion cooling system and a 500 kWh TES for WHR (TRL8). Potential utilization options of the stored thermal energy (i.e. space heating and electricity generation) will also be demonstrated within the project. The successful implementation of the MODERATOR project will have multiple impacts on different sectors. To accomplish all these results, the MODERATOR project will build upon the wide expertise of its 11 partners. In particular, the consortium consists of 3 research organizations and 8 SMEs with experience on various research and technological areas including materials science, systems design, process engineering, systems operation, modeling and simulation, technoeconomic, environmental and socioeconomic assessment, roadmap design, dissemination and communication, etc.

The ECHO project seeks to establish Energy Community and innovative energy services Excellence Hubs in Türkiye, Greece, and Portugal. These hubs will accelerate the energy transition by fostering innovation ecosystems, building capacities, and empowering local stakeholders. Employing a quadruple helix model, the ECHO consortium engaged academia, industry, government, and civil society in a collaborative framework. To achieve this, ECHO will: - Create a networking platform for continuous stakeholder collaboration, enabling resource sharing, knowledge exchange, and the dissemination of best practices. - Implement an expert collaboration program, injecting cutting-edge knowledge and practices to enhance the project's R&I potential. - Deliver tailored training programs to develop hard and soft skills across the energy community value chain. - Establish diverse pilot projects demonstrating advanced energy services, technology transfer, and solutions to energy poverty. These pilots will emphasize either direct citizen ownership (Renewable/Citizen Energy Communities) or models where service providers own assets while upholding democratic principles and strong community engagement. ECHO's focus on sustainable, scalable, and inclusive Energy Communities aligns with EU energy transition goals. By bridging regional strengths and empowering stakeholders, ECHO will contribute significantly to a resilient and equitable energy landscape.

SolarHub’s overall objective is to strengthen connections between and scale-up 5 Greek and Turkish solar energy innovation ecosystems as a single, hybrid, cross-border, and interconnected Solar Energy Excellence Hub with an emphasis on agriculture applications. SolarHub's 4 Specific Objectives (SOs) are explicitly framed by the call's 5 Core Components and target the call's Expected Outcomes and the destinations Expected Impacts. These SOs are to: 1. Co-develop a Hub Strategy and a Joint Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda 2. Execute a diverse set of complementary interventions, engaging all players of the quadruple helix to support R&I and accelerate commercialization 3. Implement joint R&I activities to co-develop 4 pre-designs of diverse solar energy solutions 4. Maximize the project’s impacts through Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication activities carefully tuned to actively engage all players of the quadruple helix To achieve these objectives, a diverse and complementary set of measures are proposed that include 1. Creation of relevant R& I strategies & policies 2. Networking between SolarHub & stakeholders 3. Multi-level engagement & training 4. Combination of R&I infrastructures for synergies 5. Creation of targeted joint programmes and linkages between the 2 countries based on sound technological solutions 6. Communicating the above to all major stakeholders in the targeted regions 7. Exploiting the positive results from all the above to setup a sustainable collaborative initiative after the end of the project. SolarHub's consortium contains 21 partners (7 Academic, 9 Business, 3 Public Authorities, and 2 Societal Actors) that are well-balanced between Academia and Business, and fully completes the quadruple helix. SolarHub is a 4 year project with 5 carefully designed Work Packages that efficiently exploit the consortium's diverse knowledge and expertise to develop Green solutions to today's Societal Challenges.

Due to the current energy crisis, the EU is reaching a critical point in the energy transition with the Clean Energy Package. Residential demand response (DR) is a promising framework whose potential is completely untapped nowadays. DR-RISE's main objective is to demonstrate the benefits of DR in the residential sector, not only for the end-consumers but for the overall energy system and the actors involved. We will offer a holistic set of tools and services with a twofold objective: increase energy efficiency via optimal management and demonstrate the benefits (not only economic) of DR. The platform will be demonstrated in three different EU countries, focusing on gathering the most diverse environments (e.g., pre-existing energy communities, smart villages, urban blocks of flats, low-income households, etc.). Our approach is completely aligned with the EU's vision to place the citizens at the heart of the solution and empower them so that they can make self-aware decisions. Furthermore, we have developed a methodology around a strong social component that includes a significant co-design process of the tools with the end-consumers, considering vulnerable groups to provide a completely inclusive solution. A first iteration in the pilots will be deployed to assess the DR benefits, including the minimum required devices to do so. Then, building on the previous results, we will iterate a second time by including new hardware and DR approaches to compare the outcomes with the previous baseline. This two-phased methodology will allow us to take corrective measures if needed and assess the potential benefits of multiple sensors and control devices. The platform will therefore reach TRL7/8 by project completion. Furthermore, our plan for dissemination and exploitation, including communication activities, contemplates building the energy helix to reach more than 150 relevant organisations and potentiate clustering activities with initiatives such as BRIDGE and Built4People

The aim of SCCALE 203050 (Sustainable Collective Citizen Action for a Local Europe) is to scale the growth of energy communities across Europe in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy production, district heating and more in households and non-residential buildings. Building on the experience of the cooperative movement and a wide range of cities and municipalities, we will: - Set up at least 25 energy communities, and directly support the replication of the SCCALE methodology in 34 additional communities - Develop a step-by-step guide for potential community leaders to support the creation, maturation and replication of energy communities. - Develop currently specific key performance indicators for community leaders and municipalities to assess the maturity and growth of the energy communities in their territories, and for external partners to assess a community's maturity and financial viability. - Gather proven technical tools and financing models suitable for citizen collective action. - Identify viable contractual models for energy communities and the involved stakeholders. - Encourage the proliferation of energy communities across Europe via a network of experts (including municipalities, SMEs, NGOs and academic institutions) to support new and existing energy communities. - Support policy makers at the European, national and local level in identifying suitable policies to foster the growth of energy communities in Europe through recommendations and discussions with policy makers.