Page 10 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

10 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

New materials to feed the rise
of renewable energies in Europe

Driven by energy security and solar PV. For the last four years, The GRIDABLE project is on a route
diversification considerations, and by more renewable power capacity was for cost efficient, high quality and
global environmental commitments, installed than fossil fuel and nuclear safe production of polymer materials
adoption of renewable energy power combined, and renewables with interspersed nanosilica particles
technology is on the rise. This trend is now account for over one third of as major building blocks of future
already clear as governments around global power capacity.3 By 2030, smart energy grid. The new materials
the world have started focusing on 14% of EU energy will come from provide better insulation properties to
renewable energy as an important renewable sources. enable smaller insulation thicknesses
part of the energy portfolio.1 and thus smaller components that
In this context, technology are made of recyclable thermoplastic
In Europe, renewable energies are innovations in the value chain will materials. In addition, they are
going to play a fundamental role in provide a two-fold competitive more energy efficient compared to
the green transition initiated by past advantage to forerunners (both traditional thermoset plastics.
Commissions and now one of the Countries and companies): (i) lower
top targets of the new Commission.2 costs due to improved material The GRIDABLE consortium is
Since clean and green power is no technology; (ii) higher production composed of eight partners
longer an idealistic aspiration but capacity due to higher energetic with expertise in plastic
an economically compelling and efficiency. The EU has funded material research, material
sustainable proposition, the next projects that will enable reaching development and engineering,
decade will see further growth and such competitive advantage. Among and industrial manufacturing
penetration of renewable energy in them, GRIDABLE4 is a promising and processing of high-voltage
various countries. European project, which connects components. The innovation
renewable energy sources to the brought about by GRIDABLE will
Renewable power capacity grew energy grid in a more efficient way result, new DC-cables and power
8% in 2018, led by wind energy and through innovative materials. capacitor units. l

Schematic representation of the renewable energy grid. High Voltage DC power capacitors and cables constitute
the backbone of the grid.

1 “Global trend in renewable energy” KPMG Singapore, 2016
2 European Commission - press release
3 REN21 - Renewables now
4 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 720858

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