SusChem defines future technology requirements for Energy Storage and sustainable Polymer Composites

Today (19 June 2018), the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) is publishing two white papers outlining the future research and innovation requirements for Battery Energy Storage technologies and the technology and non-technology requirements for integrating Polymer Composites fully into the Circular Economy.

The two papers are designed to stimulate debate on future research and innovation programmes, including Horizon Europe, in the two areas. Both papers have been produced by expert teams for SusChem and give a view of the current market, the technologies and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

In both cases a through-the-value-chain holistic European innovation programme is needed, an approach that SusChem has championed before in response to other complex societal challenges.'

Battery Storage
The ‘Battery Energy Storage’ paper investigates the current state of battery storage technologies in Europe, the main challenges, and suggests actions for the future. The paper builds on the views of stakeholders in the European battery value chain and, in particular, the chemical industry and raw material suppliers.

“The increase of Renewable Energy Sources has highlighted the next challenge: storage of energy when demand is lower than the supply. Among the different technologies, batteries have the highest cost reduction potential now. The growing need for European energy independence and security pushes for more 'in-house' developments and installation. European players should focus on developing battery cell production capacity in Europe in order to complete the value chain and allow a full integration, from material to final batteries,” comments Anne.-Chloe Devic, coordinator of the SusChem Materials Working Group.

Composites for circularity
The ‘Polymer Composites Circularity’ paper examines the technology and non-technology requirements to ensure that these advanced materials, that are featuring in an increasing number of applications, can be successfully integrated into the circular economy.

“The growing demand of polymer composites, together with the increase in number of applications raises the question: what will happen to all the composite waste that is generated either from production or end-of-life parts? Although significant efforts have been made in Europe, including the Circular Economy Package and, in particular, its Plastics Strategy, the fibre-reinforced polymer space is not really included in the focus as yet, Developing and ensuring a systematic circular ecosystem for these materials needs to be a priority,” commented Anne-Chloe Devic

The two papers will be available and discussed at the SusChem Annual Stakeholder event (#suschem2018) to be held on 20 June in Brussels.

You can download the two papers here:

• Battery Energy Storage
• Polymer Composites Circularity

Both papers were authored by the SusChem Materials Working Group in collaboration with international consultants Bax & Company.

Horizon 2020: 2017 work programme announced!

This week (25 July) the European Commission unveiled its updated Horizon 2020 work programme for 2017. The packages announced by the Commission confirmed that in 2017 Horizon 2020 will support a range of SusChem relevant initiatives including Industry 2020 in the Circular Economy (€325 million) to develop strong and sustainable economies; Green Vehicles (€133 million); and Smart and Sustainable Cities (€115 million) to better integrate environmental, transport, energy and digital networks in the EU's urban environments.

Don’t forget you can find out more – and start building your project consortia for 2017 Horizon 2020 calls – at the SusChem Brokerage event on Tuesday 13 September in Seville.

In addition it was announced by Commissioner Moedas that for 2017 open research data will be introduced as the ‘norm’ for all new Horizon 2020 calls: projects funded under the programme will be required to offer free online access to all scientific data produced. The Commission believes that this move will boost competitiveness by accelerating innovation and collaboration, improving transparency, and avoiding duplication of efforts.

However, the Commission is aware that there are cases where research data cannot be open. Projects therefore have the possibility to opt out of the scheme, provided a valid justification is given such as protection of intellectual property.

A further new element in Horizon 2020 will be the use of Data Management Plans (DMPs), detailing what data the project will generate, whether and how it will be made accessible for verification and re-use, and how it will be curated and preserved. The use of a DMP is required for projects participating in the Open Research Data Pilot. Other projects are invited to submit a DMP if relevant for their planned research but only funded projects are required to submit a DMP.

See an infographic on how this will work in practice here, find out more on Open Research Data here and more on the proposals for Horizon 2020 Data Management here.

2017 key priorities

The Commission wants the 2017 Horizon 2020 work programme update to support competitiveness through open science. The calls and other actions under the current work programme updates have a budget of €8.5 billion. All the calls and related information are published on a single portal and build on the success of Horizon 2020 to date.

The Horizon 2020 Work Programme is directly aligned with the agenda of the Commission. It will contribute to the Jobs, Growth and Investment Package helping to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness through innovation to create new and sustainable jobs and promote growth.

The 2017 announcement highlighted six priorities:

• A new Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment - Research and innovation investments will cover both the immediate need to engage the re-industrialisation of Europe as well as the longer-term objective of building solid knowledge needed for the next wave of innovative breakthroughs. This includes around €1.45 billion of funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including €438 million through a dedicated instrument which should benefit over 1 000 highly innovative SMEs.
• A Stronger Global Actor, Towards a New Policy on Migration, and an Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust – this demonstrates the flexibility of Horizon 2020 to address topical issues including an €11 million package of migration actions and €49 million to assist research on the Fight against crime and terrorism. 
• A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy – to ensure that Europe has secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy including initiatives to close the water cycle gap, by reconciling water supply and demand in both quantitative and qualitative terms with a budget of €10 million in the 'Greening the economy' call and research to support the future development of a production base for next generation Lithium battery cells or post-lithium battery cells under the Green Vehicles cPPP.  In total the 2017 energy calls dedicate more than €84 million for developing energy storage systems improving the flexibility of the energy grid to integrate an increasing share of renewables.
• A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base – this priority includes a call on Industry 2020 in the Circular Economy (€225 million) which will contribute to boosting and renewing Europe's industrial capacities while ensuring sustainability and a call on personalised medicine (€332 million).
• A Connected Digital Single Market – to address existing barriers that access and providing innovative digital solutions including in electronics, computing, networking, robotics, photonics and cybersecurity.
• Cross-cutting and other features - supporting a range of cross-cutting initiatives in 2017 including Industry 2020 in the Circular Economy (€325 million) and Smart and Sustainable Cities (€115 million).

Research Integrity

The EU's Horizon 2020 research funding programme has now a more specific set of rules on research integrity to be followed by beneficiaries. The revamped model agreement provides more clarity on previously general requirements contained in Article 34 of the agreement. The article now explicitly calls for beneficiaries to respect the principles of honesty, reliability, objectivity, impartiality, open communication, duty of care, and fairness and responsibility for future science generations.

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity has recently been revised in a process led by All European Academies (ALLEA), and once updated, in January 2017, the new code together with the revised Article 34 will constitute an effective mechanism to promote adherence to the highest standards of research integrity across Europe.

European Parliament Safeguards Horizon 2020 Funding

Meanwhile earlier this month the European Parliament adopted an own-initiative report that calls on the Commission and the European Council to support the report’s proposal to safeguard Europe’s research and innovation budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

In its report, the European Parliament “regrets that the portion of the EU budget dedicated to research and innovation has often been the first to be affected by any cuts in the budget” and demands an increase to the ceiling of the competitiveness heading of the MFF in order to compensate for European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) related cuts.

More information

More details on the work programme update are available at here and on the Horizon 2020 website and Participant portal.

The SusChem Brokerage event will also outline SusChem relevant work package details and help participants to find project partners and start their Horizon 2020 journey! Register today! 

SusChem Stakeholder 2016: Solutions for the Energy Union

This year’s SusChem stakeholder event takes place on 16 June in Brussels. One of the major areas for discussion at the stakeholder event will be energy and the contribution that sustainable chemistry can make to energy efficiency, new sustainable energy sources and the transition to a low-carbon economy. This article outlines some of the issues that will inform the debate in this area during the stakeholder event and for which we are seeking your input in advance.

The chemical industry needs energy in its processes and has a strong track record in reducing energy consumption through innovation and manufacturing excellence. In fact, since 1990, the chemical sector has effectively decoupled production from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The European Commission’s Energy Union strategy, adopted in February 2015, dedicates one of its five dimensions to research, innovation and competitiveness. The integrated Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan plays a central role in a new European energy Research and Innovation approach designed to accelerate the transformation of our energy system.

Sustainable chemistry solutions

Advances in sustainable chemistry are key elements in achieving the objectives of the European Commission’s Energy Union and SET-Plan. SusChem’s Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) dedicates a chapter to the challenge of, and solutions for, Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy. The chapter covers energy efficiency in chemical processes and proposed solutions that are key to the competitiveness of the chemical industry. It also describes how the industry’s technologies and products contribute to energy efficiency and clean energy productions and storage for the wider society.

Examples of innovations that will contribute to further improving energy and resource efficiency in the chemical sector include:

• Increased energy efficiency of process technologies through advanced high performance catalysis, process intensification, and advanced process modelling and control.
• Better utilisation of alternative sources of carbon such as biomass, waste, and industrial gaseous effluents (including CO₂).
• Industrial symbiosis making connections with and across industries for improved energy and resource  efficiency via better valorisation of heat, improved water management and use of materials from waste and side streams.

Equally important are the solutions provided by the chemical industry to the development of a low carbon economy and energy efficiency in other sectors.

The chemical industry is a key solution provider in virtually all value chains, with technologies and advanced materials that enable Europe to be a world leader in renewable energy such as:

• Advanced materials for sustainable production of renewable electricity including new composites for wind turbine blades and materials for photovoltaic technologies including recyclability of materials.
• Advanced materials and technologies for renewable energy storage including materials for advanced batteries, chemical energy storage through advanced materials and process technologies (hydrogen and CO₂ based energy carriers via power-to-gas and power-to-liquid technologies), and novel thermal storage of energy via phase change materials or via reversible thermochemical reaction.
• In addition sustainable chemistry provides energy efficiency solutions for buildings such as advanced materials for thermal insulation, highly energy efficient lighting, and phase change materials for thermal storage. Chemistry is also key to better energy efficiency in water treatment, for example by development of advanced membranes for water purification.
• Chemistry is also key to more sustainable transport systems by providing lightweight materials, materials for more fuel efficient tyres, advanced materials and process technologies for battery production and sustainable alternative fuels for transport including CO₂ based fuels such as methanol, methane, gasoline and kerosene.

How to sustain success?
In order for the chemical industry to make an effective impact on the development of a low carbon economy, support for technology development (including to achieve breakthroughs) and an appropriate policy framework (to ensure market uptake) will be required.

A sustainability based approach for policy development involving the integration of all aspects of sustainability (environment, economy, social) and integration of lifecycle concept is essential to evaluate the impact of innovative technologies and the development of an effective strategy and policy framework.

Coherence and stability over time for the policy framework is critical to contribute fully to a sustainable economy and address climate goals This means that a variety of policies have to be developed in coordination such as those on energy, primary and secondary resources. Policy coherence in content and timing, as well as policy stability over time, is essential to establish a regulatory framework that enables investment in sustainable, resource efficient and innovative technologies. Uncertainty and extended timelines for policy decisions have negative consequences on the confidence of private investments in new, cleaner technologies. The regulatory framework is an essential element to ensure European leadership in innovation toward a low carbon economy.

Stakeholder discussions
A highly interactive debate is expected at the Stakeholder event on 16 June and your questions and expectations on the outcomes for the panel debates, in particular on energy issues, are welcome in advance.

Registration for the 2016 SusChem Stakeholder event is now open. The event will take place on 16 June 2016 at the Hotel Bloom in Brussels, Belgium. The dedicated registration website includes links to discounted accommodation at the Hotel Bloom.

You are invited to submit your questions and comments and also your expectations for outcomes as part of the registration process. You can submit your questions and comments when you register and there will also be a link for question submission sent with the registration confirmation email.

For more information on registration, please contact the SusChem secretariat.