GREEN-LOOP addresses novel bio-based materials solutions, tackling the problem from a circular-business thinking perspective, which will enable overcoming the barrier for new manufacture tools, energy efficiency improvements and sustainable value chains. The main goal of GREEN-LOOP is to design and optimise 3 innovative bio-based materials and components for industrial sectors: construction, packaging, food, beverage, appliances and tooling. 1) multifunctional panels rubber panels with fire resistance and vibrational applications, 2) bioplastic bottle closures for oil and fruit juice, 3) wood composites bearings for plastic injection machines. The value chain of each product is optimised from raw material source to End Of Life of products, ensuring the circular economy. All manufacturing lines are retrofitted to adapt to the new enhanced bio compoundings using Artificial Intelligence. Ultrasound improvement is included in the lignin production and rubber manufacture, and Microwaves improve preheating of bioplastic on injection moulding and curing of wood composites. The whole process is monitored and presented in a virtual platform that includes KPI evaluation, business optimization in real-time, training (webinars), and social engagement

PilotSTRATEGY focuses on advancing understanding of deep saline aquifer (DSA) resources for geological CO2 storage in five European industrial regions in Southern and Eastern Europe. DSAs have much promise and potential for CO2 storage, but despite their high potential storage capacity, they are not well studied. There is a need to increase confidence and maturity of understanding of these sites. PilotSTRATEGY will investigate DSA in detail in three regions of Southern Europe: Paris Basin (France), Lusitanian Basin (Portugal) and Ebro Basin (Spain). This will include acquisition of new data, detailed geo-characterisation, feasibility studies and preliminary design or pre-front end engineering and design studies. At the end of the project, the level of site characterisation in these three regions will be sufficient to allow a final investment decision to be made and for storage permitting and project approval to be obtained. In two further regions of Eastern Europe, West Macedonia (Greece) and Upper Silesia (Poland), PilotSTRATEGY will increase the maturity and confidence level of understanding of DSA storage resources, based on new available data, reprocessing of old data and new dynamic simulation studies. This will enable these regions to start planning to develop their storage resources. Recognising the social challenge of implementing geological CO2 storage, PilotSTRATEGY will take a systemic approach and analyse the factors that influence societal acceptance of storage sites, to develop methods for societal engagement. Regional stakeholders and the local public will be involved in developing recommendations and concepts as part of the pilot conceptualization and design. At the same time, PilotSTRATEGY will run a series of dialogues, “Talk with Authorities,” to support capacity building in local authorities and build policy makers’ awareness of geological CO2 storage, particularly the role of CCUS in just, net-zero transitions in all regions.

The STRATEGY CCUS project aims to elaborate strategic plans for CCUS development in Southern and Eastern Europe at short term (up to 3 years), medium term (3-10 years) and long term (more than 10 years). Specific objectives are to develop: •Local CCUS development plans, with local business models, within promising start‐up regions; •Connection plans with transport corridors between local CCUS clusters, and with the North Sea infrastructure, in order to improve performance and reduce costs, thus contributing to build a Europe-wide CCUS infrastructure. As recommended by the SET Plan Action 9, the STRATEGY CCUS project will study options for CCUS clusters in Eastern and Southern Europe, as at present the CCUS clusters being progressed are concentrated in Western Europe around the North Sea. Therefore, the project is timely for the strategic planning for CCUS development in the whole of Europe. Strategic planning will consider 8 promising regions, within 7 countries (ES, FR, GR, HR, PO, PT, RO) representing 45% of the European CO2 emissions from the industry and energy sectors. These regions satisfy CCUS relevant criteria: presence of an industrial cluster, possibilities for CO2 storage and/or utilization, potential for coupling with hydrogen production and use, existing studies, and political will. The methodology starts with a detailed mapping of CCUS technical potential of the regions together with a comprehensive mapping of local stakeholders and a process for their engagement. This will pave the ground for CCUS deployment scenarios including assessment of 'bankable' storage capacity, economic and environmental evaluation. The project strength relies on of a highly skilled consortium with experience on the whole CCUS chain as well as key transverse skills. CCUS development plans will be elaborated in close cooperation with stakeholders, through the Regional Stakeholder Committees and the Industry Club, to ensure plans can be implemented, i.e. socially acceptable.