outPHit is an EU-funded project that is driving future-proof energy renovations across Europe.

Currently, 75% of European buildings are inefficient, contributing to 40% of EU energy use and 36% of CO2 emissions.

The outPHit project is making deep retrofits faster, cheaper and more reliable by pairing streamlined renovation approaches like Energiesprong with Passive House principles for ambitious energy performance on the basis of the EnerPHit standard. The ultimate goal of the project is to make buildings climate proof.

The project is renovating buildings through 25 case studies to show real results and provide energy efficient solutions, while facilitating the development of high performance renovation systems, tools for decision making and quality assurance safeguards.

The project was shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the EU Sustainable Energy Week this year.

During the event, EU Energy Projects Podcast host Areti Ntaradimou spoke to Sarah Meghan, from project partner Climate Alliance, to find out more.

The PHOTORAMA project is paving the way for the recycling of millions of tonnes of PV waste. This project is developing a circular model to reuse materials like glass, aluminium, copper, silver and silicon from old solar panels.

The growth of solar energy generation is an integral part of the energy transition, but finding sustainable solutions for photovoltaic panels that reach the end of their lifecycle is also a growing challenge.

The work of this Horizon 2020 project was recently recognised at the EU Sustainable energy Week Innovation awards.

Areti was at the event in Brussel where she spoke to Claire Agraffeil, the EU project coordinator from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).

THE CEA plays a key role in the PHOTORAMA project, including Coordination and technological development for pre-industrial integration.
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The RENergetic project was conceived to demonstrate the viability of so-called urban energy islands and aims to empower renewable energy communities to inhabit these energy islands.

Energy communities are playing a growing role in Europe's energy transition and in this episode of the EU Energy Projects Podcast we explore how the RENergetic project aims to fuel the involvement of local communities in processes traditionally hidden from them, such as heat supply.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate the improvement of efficiency and energy autarky. It also focuses community involvement, and the socio-economic viability of three very different urban energy islands in Belgium, Poland and Italy.

Co-host Ross Hastie was part of the Enlit on the Road team that travelled to Milan to speak with Roberto de Lotto, who is a Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Pavia and leads one of the RENergetic project work packages in Segrate, a Municipality in Milan.

We explore the project’s transdisciplinary approach to achieve their goals and how their learnings can be exported.

This episode delves into how the TALOS Project is developing cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence to automate operations and maintenance tasks in photovoltaic plants.

The crucial role of solar power in the energy transition requires no introduction, but the ever-increasing scale of solar PV operations has thrown up a range of challenges.

These large-scale solar energy installations, often located in remote areas, face challenges like finding skilled labor and ensuring worker safety.

In this episode we explore sustainability and ethics in energy with Marine Cornelis. 

This conversation is part of a special double episode, the first discussion of which will be published on the EU Energy Projects podcast, and the second on Energ’ethic, Marine’s own podcast that has been running for over three years.

We also delve into the opportunities for meaningful change that European Sustainable Energy Week 2024 - where Marine is a panel moderator - brings to the European Energy Sector.

Marine has a profound belief in making the energy and climate transition relatable to people. “If we only stay at the technical or business level, we’ll never reach people’s hearts,” she said. Her podcast focuses on giving a human face to the energy and climate transition, emphasising personal stories to engage people and demonstrate that they can make a difference.

In this episode we explore the learnings of the EU-funded EV4EU project, diving deep into the challenges and opportunities surrounding EV adoption across Europe.

The European transportation sector is facing a massive transformation, and electric vehicles are set to play a crucial role Europe’s race to meet emissions targets.

We'll hear about the project's findings on consumer behaviour, infrastructure needs, technology, data sharing and an EU policy and regulatory landscape in desperate need of attention.

This episode also features a new host, Ross Hastie, who spoke to some of the leading minds in the project, in Lisbon.

He is joined in conversation by Rui Martins, the Head of R&D Structural Funds at Smart Energy LAB, one of the Project’s 16 consortium members.

We also hear from Sónia Sampaio, Smart Energy LAB’s Head Of Experience Design and Diogo Briuto, who lead’s their Engineering department

Smart Energy LAB is leading a crucial work package focused on understanding the key factors influencing V2X integration in smart cities and societal adoption across Europe

The project’s participants are based in Denmark, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia, thus covering a broad range spectrum of the European environment, at very different levels of electric mobility maturity.

So, buckle up, as we explore the challenges and opportunities for making electric vehicles a mainstream reality across the continent.

The European Union finds itself at a crossroad, balancing the growth of renewable energy sources against the potential benefits of nuclear power.

In this episode, we delve into the intricate dance of progress and safety, exploring cutting-edge advancements and the contrasting views on nuclear energy's role in the EU's energy transition. 

In a world where the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, the debate surrounding the future of energy production has never been more critical. 

This Episode of The EU Energy Projects Podcast features insights from data experts Jelle Wilders (CCO Axual) and Laurent Schmitt (Head of Utilities & European Developments at dcbel & President at Digital4Grids), and unveils how the Kafka platfrom is becoming the cornerstone of secure and efficient power data exchange platforms. The team also discusses the examples of Projects Eddie and OneNet. 

The European Union's ambitious clean energy transition hinges not just on technological innovation but also on robust data management frameworks. As the EU leans into a future powered by renewable sources, the security and privacy of the data that orchestrates this monumental shift have taken the center stage.

Project EDDIE is the first data space to bring real-time consumer data into European energy markets.

In this episode of the EU Energy Projects Podcast, Areti is joined by Laurent Schmitt, who represents Project EDDIE, to discuss the importance of robust EU regulations in data protection, cybersecurity, cost efficiency, as well as Europe’s competitiveness in cloud and data spaces compared to China and the US.

Project EDDIE focuses on reducing cost of data sharing, making data interoperable and managing consumer consent. The whole endeavour isn’t without challenges, though. For example, flexibility management, as well as concerns regarding data access and security.

Laurent talks us through the intricacies of data spaces, a phenomenon shaping how we share and govern data across a federation of clouds with an emphasis on sovereignty, cybersecurity, and the geographic nature of data.

Laurent also addresses the nuances between freely available data and models that necessitate payment, and the role of open-source technology in this ecosystem.

Amidst the discussion, GDPR and the imperative of maintaining data anonymity resonate as foundational aspects of this transformation.  

The Podcast explores the emergent role of specialised companies like Decibel in the energy transition, Europe's standing in the global data sharing echelons, and the need for stringent technological safeguards against external cyber threats.

The conversation will also charge into the realm of electric vehicles, touching on the projected surge in both EVs and homes equipped with PVs by 2035, laying down the tracks for a future powered by renewables.             

Project EDDIE demonstrates how the need for robust regulations aligns with the ambition of making Europe a powerhouse of smart industry.

Stay tuned for a visionary episode full of insights and optimism for a greener, smarter world.

*Laurent Schmitt is the Head of Utilities & European Developments at dcbel & President at Digital4Grids

The building sector accounts for 36% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions and 42% of the energy consumed. This episode of The EU Energy Projects Podcast explores the concept of green buildings and neighborhoods, with a focus on the EU-funded project PROBONO.

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