Millions of litres of water are consumed daily for industrial processes, forming a key impediment to the circular economy in Europe. To tackle this, the EU-funded ULTIMATE project developed a ‘water-smart industrial symbiosis’ concept. This effort led to new technologies and processes to extract clean water, energy and valuable materials from wastewater.
The shipping industry produces more than 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, accounting for nearly 3 % of human-caused global emissions. By converting ships to run on renewable liquid fuels, the EU-funded FASTWATER project is showing how transport emissions can be cut, offering significant progress towards the EU’s climate goals.
Half of the world’s population lives in cities, and this figure is growing. Delivering water and sewage services in urban areas continues to be a significant challenge, especially in the face of climate change. Digital tools developed by the EU-funded DWC project are already being used to maintain Europe’s commitment to high-quality water infrastructure.
The EU-funded D^2EPC project is revolutionising building energy performance assessment and certification with dynamic Energy Performance Certificates that adapt to real data, empowering homeowners, building professionals and policymakers for a more sustainable future.
Agriculture accounts for 25 % of the world’s total carbon emissions. To help the sector reduce its carbon footprint, the EU-funded AgriCapture project is turning to a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in soil. Not only can this reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, it also improves soil quality.
Whilst the technology for seamlessly integrating photovoltaics into traditional building parts is already there, its cost has so far been enough for landlords and investors to get cold feet. But that could change thanks to innovation under the EU-funded BIPVBOOST project.
By 2050, the global population will soar to 9 billion, with three quarters of this number living in urban areas. Pressure on ecosystems due to population growth, urbanisation and climate change will reach its peak. The EU-funded project ECORISK2050 set out to tackle the daunting task of future environmental risk management of chemicals in the face of global climate change.
Energy costs more on islands, as they are typically isolated from the national grid. While greater use of renewable energy could lower these costs, most European islands don’t have the necessary grid infrastructure. The EU-funded INSULAE project’s demonstrations showcased the technical and economic viability of decentralising island energy supplies, paving a way to affordable, sustainable energy.
Reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a critical element in the fight against climate change. This is why EU researchers have pioneered a novel method of capturing emissions and storing them underground as rock. This could help Europe meet its climate targets.
The industrial sector accounts for nearly a third of energy use in the EU, mostly for heat and thermal processes. Innovative technology developed by the EU-funded ETEKINA project recycles factory heat, lowering environmental impact and running costs. The research supports the EU’s goal of being climate-neutral by 2050.
