Deadline: 23-Sep-21
The European Commission (EC) is pleased to announce the Design and optimisation of energy flexible industrial processes (Processes4Planet Partnership) (IA).
Process flexibility and efficient energy storage are essential to account for the variable renewable energy production. When less energy is available, process industries can consume less energy or take it from storage; whereas, when there is surplus of energy, the excess energy can be consumed or stored. A fast response rate, i.e., a swift increase or decrease of the process energy consumption, is key in the shift to dynamic operating processes. To support the change of energy supply, current processes, designed to run continuously at maximum capacity, have to be adapted. Besides, energy efficiency measures will help decreasing the overall process energy demand. To leverage the flexibility in process industries, digital process control systems that optimise the process while accounting for the value of flexibility need to be implemented.
Digital tools need to be developed to attain the energy flexibility of the process, but also to exchange data with network operators and flexibility markets (through market operators, suppliers and/or aggregators), which will enable industries to provide flexibility services. Powerful digital twins based on suitable combinations of analytical models, physics-based AI or pure AI solutions need to be designed and applied. To find optimal control solutions in a minimal time, digital twins could be empowered, for example, by multi-agent systems technologies.
Proposals should address the following aspects:
- In an existing process, identification of potential flexibility that allows an efficient and competitive operation;
- Redesign and modification of the process to enable more flexibility in operation (e.g. process that can run faster or slower depending on the needs of the grid) or the shift from batch processes to continuous processes, etc., including the removal or adaptation of process steps that limit the flexibility;
- Redesign and modification of the process to increase its flexibility response rate (e.g., faster ramp up or ramp down) towards a higher energy efficiency at subsystem level;
- Development or redesign of digital process control systems, including, e.g., digital twins with integrated multi-agent systems, etc., supported by smart sensors and integrated analytical tools, to realise the flexibility of the process and to create connections to grid integration platforms;
- Evaluation of the potential use of onsite energy storage and conversion (electricity, heat, or other energy vectors) for the proposed flexible solution and integration of such energy solutions whenever relevant and feasible;
- Optimisation of the new process design at pilot scale.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Significant increase of the process flexibility and demand response towards the integration of variable energy sources, i.e., renewable energy sources, including possible onsite energy storage and conversion;
- Overall increased energy efficiency of the industrial process within the energy system;
- New digital tools that account for the energy availability to realise the additional flexibility of the process and that create connections to energy grid platforms for a more efficient energy management system;
- Cost reduction of the overall process through valorisation of excess streams into the energy system.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
- eligible non-EU countries:
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- low- and middle-income countries,
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2TFXgxO