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The European Commission has launched a funding call under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within Cluster 4: Digital, Industry, and Space. This call, titled "Green and resilient flexible production processes," is part of the Processes4Planet partnership and focuses on Innovation Actions (IA). It aims to enhance the flexibility and resilience of energy-intensive industrial processes to accommodate the variability inherent in renewable energy sources. By redesigning and modifying existing processes and equipment, the initiative seeks to enable production plants to swiftly adapt to fluctuations in energy input without compromising efficiency or equipment integrity. The overarching goal is to contribute to the European Union's climate neutrality objectives and the Commission's recommendation to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040.
Opening: 22 May 2025
Deadline(s): 23 Sep 2025
Expected Outcome
The initiative aims to achieve:
- Significant increases in process flexibility, enabling production plants to adapt promptly to energy input variations.
- Development of new flexible and efficient production processes that yield economic and sustainability benefits despite volatile energy supplies.
- Enhanced raw material and energy efficiency in the face of renewable energy input variations.
- Contribution to the EU's climate neutrality goals and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040.
Scope
The call addresses the need for energy-intensive industries to adapt to the intermittent nature of renewable energy supplies. Proposals should focus on:
- Redesigning and modifying existing processes and equipment to enhance operational flexibility.
- Implementing smart combinations of renewable energy sources and storage options.
- Increasing the speed of process adjustments (e.g., ramp-up or ramp-down) while maintaining high energy and resource efficiency.
- Demonstrating material and energy efficiency gains from a holistic perspective of processing plants and energy systems.
- Showcasing improved performance, scalability, and cost efficiency through at least one realistic use case at pilot scale.
- Considering the human dimension and necessary skills for industrial implementation.
Incorporating digital tools and advanced control systems to support process flexibility is also encouraged.