Page 52 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

52 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

Solar Heat for Industrial
Processes

Establishment of a European Common Innovation and Research Agenda

By Elena Dufour, Nestor Fylaktos, Josephine Stemmer and Peter Nitz
Solar thermal technologies
face technological and The first is a report on R&D needs research should leverage EU funding,
competitiveness challenges that identified several areas of the since the bulk of funds so far have
hindering their wider state-of-the-art R&D and proposed been coming from national sources.
steps towards future improvements. For this, the technology needs to

contribution towards the European Topics identified in the project underline its credentials as a viable

decarbonisation goals. These preparation stage were proven to be tool towards decarbonisation of the

challenges become even more still relevant, such as the integration industry, one of the sectors that will

demanding when considering the of higher TRL systems to industrial be hardest to move towards zero-

use of such technologies in industrial processes, and the need for a new carbon-emitting fuels.

applications. breed of low TRL solutions with

an emphasis on cost reductions The innovation strategies document

INSHIP’s (Integrating National and system integration. Utilising examined how INSHIP’s 10 European

Research Agendas on Solar Heat data collected from the National research countries position

for Industrial Processes) primary Concept Notes (prepared by project themselves in terms of their policy

objective is to connect research partners and important national support, competitive advantage and

institutions and researchers across stakeholders), as well as feedback practice-based innovation gauged

Europe, to provide a clear vision for from the industry and policy makers, across a multitude of SHIP-related

R&D needs in Europe, and establish the report highlighted the need variables. The results of the report

innovative pathways for growing for proper financing instruments show that acknowledgement and

and diversifying SHIP (Solar Heat for and the convergence to common support of SHIP is generally still

Industrial Processes) by gathering technical standards. These results low (but not universally across all

the participation of 28 European R&D were corroborated by the realisation countries examined), and the type

institutions. Two core deliverables that SHIP needs to promote its value of innovation support provided is

addressing these issues were proposition more (and move away disparate, with some strong regional

completed within 2019. These were from pure cost calculations), and schemes but none nationally, or

discussed at a workshop tailored for also emphasise awareness for the vice-versa. Again, it became apparent

industry and policymakers that took technologies, both at the industrial that SHIP is disadvantaged compared

place in Brussels in February 2019. and the policy maker sides. SHIP to other renewables (and CSP in

Fig. 1 Solar Metallic Volumetric Fig. 2 Alternative low-cost collector for medium temperature (150-200°C)
Receiver

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu