Page 22 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

22 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

Advanced Materials for Clean
and Sustainable Energy and
Mobility - Key R&I priorities
are clearn the face of the 21st century’s
GHG emissions, have already made represent up to 80% of the costs of
global climate and energy significant steps; from energy the key components of clean and
challenges, Europe’s ambition harvesting to energy storage, as well sustainable energy and mobility
as technologies that improve the technologies. These investments will
Iis to become the leader in the energy efficiency and decarbonisation not only provide an environmental
transition to an economy that keeps of end uses. The share of renewable benefit but will also strengthen the
growing within environmental and energy has increased from 8.5% in economy – the RES and energy
societal constraints. The strategic 2005 to 17.5% in 2017 – enabled by efficiency sectors employ more than
directions set by the new President harvesting and storage technologies 2 million people in the EU – and
of the European Commission Ursula – while energy efficiency of end-use create a competitive advantage
von der Leyen in ‘A European Green sectors increased by 30% compared for Europe in a future where clean
Deal’ confirm the willingness of to 1990. technologies are indispensable.
the new European Commission to
reinforce earlier ambitions such as Achieving these ambitious targets Advanced materials at the heart of
the commitment of Europe to the will only happen by taking advantage clean techs
Paris Agreement on Climate and of all possible technological options: The advanced materials industry
position Europe at the forefront better use of natural resources, re- (Chemicals, Polymers, Metals and
of sustainability. Addressing these use in a circular economy approach, alloys, Glass, Ceramics, Composites…)
objectives, in line with the ambitious increased use of renewable energy is renowned as one of the leading
timescales considered, will require and feedstock, electrification of technology sectors in Europe. It
breakthrough technologies and mobility and energy-intensive generates innovation that benefits
disruptive models at a scale and processes, new catalytic processes society at large providing more than
a pace never encountered before, to re-use CO2, eco-designed 2.5 million direct jobs (and around
that will transform our society in materials… Overall, this requires four times more in indirect jobs
all activity sectors. The European further urge investments in Research along the various value chains) and
energy and mobility sectors, which and Innovation activities across all contributes to more than 650 billion
today generate about half of all the Technology Readiness Levels euros of Europe’s gross domestic
(TRLs), with a particular emphasis product. Home to approximately
Since 2012, EMIRI, the on advanced materials – which 40.000 companies, European
Energy Materials Industrial
Research Initiative, is
representing more than
50 organizations (industry,
research, associations) active
in advanced materials for
clean and sustainable energy
& mobility technologies. EMIRI
contributes to industrial
leadership of developers,
producers and key users of
advanced materials by shaping
innovation, manufacturing and
energy policy framework at
European level.

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