Sustainable Energy Day: Putting buildings at the centre of integrated local energy systems

Buildings are a priority sector for the EU Green Deal. Higher ambition on building renovation will not only deliver important emission reductions, but will also help relaunch our economy, create jobs and reduce our dependence on energy imports. The diversity of European buildings requires a mix of energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart energy solutions optimised at local level. There is no one-size-fits-all!

Buildings sector decarbonisation goes hand in hand with consumer empowerment. The uptake of EVs and heat pumps motivates some consumers to produce their own electricity via PV or micro-CHP or engage in demand response. Yet, prosumer behaviour is not sufficiently promoted through an adapted market design.

Zooming out to the district level, consumers’ individual decisions may not be congruent with overall energy and climate ambition. Disconnections from district heating and switching to individual solutions often lead to lower system efficiency and system adequacy issues. Such negative consequences could be prevented through local energy systems planning and operation.

This Sustainable Energy Day will feature a high-level policy debate on buildings decarbonisation complemented by a series of best practices. These examples will showcase how energy systems integration at local, district and building level will play a key role in boosting energy efficiency, integrating higher shares of renewables and reducing energy costs for consumers. 

This event will take place in Brussels (Rue de la Loi 42) from 14:00 until 16:00 (followed by a Networking Reception). You are welcome to attend the event either in person or online (via an interactive livestream). Registration is free of charge.

PROGRAMME

Welcome and Introduction

  • Hans Korteweg – Managing Director, COGEN Europe

Keynote speeches

  • Ciaran Cuffe – Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur on EPBD
  • Adela Tesarova – Head of Unit ‘Consumers, Local Initiatives, Just Transition’, DG Energy, European Commission

Smart Synergies for Green Buildings – Case Studies

  • ‘The Future of Smart Energy: from smart appliances to transactive energy’ – Jeremy Harrison – Principal Analyst, Delta-EE (see slides)
  • ‘Stationary Fuel Cells for homes and small businesses’ – Alexandra Tudoroiu-Lakavičė – Head of Policy, COGEN Europe (Representing the PACE Project) (see slides)
  • ‘Delivering decarbonisation at local level’ – Kamila Waciega – Director of Energy & Public Affairs, Veolia (see slides)

Panel Discussion: Unlocking systems integration for an ambitious Renovation Wave

  • Aurelie Bauvais – Managing Director, Euroheat & Power
  • Eva Hennig – CEDEC
  • Marion Malafosse – Policy Manager, SmartEn
  • Dries Acke – Director, Solar Power Europe

Concluding remarks

  • Hans Korteweg – Managing Director, COGEN Europe
Read more

REPowerEU: The role of energy efficiency

18 May 2022

In the context of the ongoing energy supply and price crisis, and given our long term environmental and energy security objectives, it is clear that Europe cannot afford to waste energy. Energy efficiency solutions such as cogeneration are vital for reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and also for extracting the maximum amount of useful energy from valuable renewable energy resources. This webinar provides an overview of how the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle, applied across the entire energy value chain, can put Europe on a fast track to energy independence and decarbonisation. The webinar highlights examples of successful projects in Belgium, Germany and Italy involving the smart integration of energy efficient and renewable energy solutions including: district heating, waste heat recovery, and renewable gases and clean hydrogen complemented by high-efficiency cogeneration.

Introduction by Alexandra Tudoroiu-Lakavičė (Head of Policy, COGEN Europe) Generating power and heat using clean hydrogen (Hassfurt, Germany) – Presented by Andre Banken (Director International Business Development,  2G Energy) Ochain Energie Biogas Plant (Belgium) – Presented by Jiří Janša (Deputy Sales Director, TEDOM) & Christopher Stunz (Business Unit Manager, Coretec Energy) iRecovery Project to recover and re-use heat from steel production (Brescia, Italy) – Presented by Sabrina Santarossa (Sales Manager, Turboden)

 

Watch the webinar on YouTube

https://youtu.be/Uz9IzWvmP0s

Read more

Decarbonising Buildings: The Role of Hydrogen

31 March 2021

As the EU Green Deal prioritises buildings as a hard to decarbonise sector, hydrogen use to heat and power buildings is now a hotly debated topic. With annual renovation rates below 1% and more than 70% of heating in buildings supplied by old and inefficient boilers, accelerating building decarbonisation presents both challenges and exciting opportunities. A range of solutions are already available to supply efficient and increasingly renewable heat to and in buildings, including reducing demand, direct electrification, district heating, cogeneration, solar thermal, geothermal. Yet key challenges to the timely and cost-effective decarbonisation of buildings include the seasonality of heat demand, the variability and limited capacity of renewable electricity supply, constrained electricity grids, customer choice and cost. On the other hand, gas grids across Europe are today covering more than 50% of the energy needs in buildings, making it a major energy carrier with high decarbonisation potential. In this Power & Heat Boost webinar, we explore the role of hydrogen, as well as other renewable and decarbonised gases, to support the decarbonisation of buildings. Fostering the use of hydrogen with cogeneration for efficient heat and flexible power supply will be showcased. Pros and cons of hydrogen use in buildings will also be debated.

Fuel Cell micro-Cogeneration: Latest Developments and Future Perspectives Benefits of Hydrogen & Cogeneration for Buildings Hydrogen Blending: Overview of Different Approaches

 

Watch our webinar on YouTube

https://youtu.be/LsrgmnvGE8s

Read more

Towards an efficient, integrated and cost-effective net-zero energy system in 2050: the role of cogeneration

Presentation by Artelys on role of cogeneration in 2050

28 October 2020 | 13:30 – 15:00

The European Green Deal promises to deliver on a net-zero energy system by 2050. The European Commission has put energy systems integration and energy efficiency first at the centre to achieve this ambition. Therefore, consultancy Artelys undertook a study to demonstrate the numerous benefits of further deploying flexible and highly efficient cogeneration for the energy system and users (domestic, commercial and industrial) across Europe. The study assesses the role of cogeneration in achieving a decarbonised energy system in 2050. Having finalised the study, Artelys will present its key findings during this webinar.

Agenda

1. Welcome – Marco Pezzaglia, Chair, COGEN Europe

 

2. Keynote Speech – Guido Bortoni, Senior Advisor – Internal Energy Market Regulation, Directorate General Energy, European Commission

 

3. Cogeneration in 2050: Study findings and recommendations – Christopher Andrey, Director, Artelys

 

4. Q&A

 

5. Summary – Hans Korteweg, Managing Director, COGEN Europe

 

Read more

Financing Europe’s sustainable energy future

Agenda

1. The future of EU Taxonomy – Zita Csoka, Policy Analyst, Directorate General Energy, European Commission

 

2. Panel debate
Zita Csoka, Policy Analyst, Directorate General Energy, European Commission
Jean Marc Jossart, Secretary General, Bioenergy Europe
Sara Dethier, Policy Researcher, E3G
James Watson, Secretary General, Eurogas
Nikolaos Keramidas Vice-Chair, Energy Policy Working Group, COGEN Europe & EU & Regulatory Affairs Director, Mytilineos
 

Conclusions

1. The future EU taxonomy will be a key tool to accelerate investments that help transition towards a climate neutral Europe. It should be balanced and take today’s energy market reality into account to promote a cleaner energy system, guarantee affordable financing, while safeguarding energy security at acceptable cost and maintain Europe’s competitiveness.

 

2. Consistency of the future EU Taxonomy is a major factor for its success

  • with existing EU legislation, such as the Energy Efficiency Directive and Renewable Energy Directive and their requirements
  • between public and private banks in their consideration of what is a sustainable investment
  • with other Taxonomy initiatives and standards being developed at international level 

Such consistency is key to safeguard investment security and drive the uptake of solutions considered sustainable today, but also ensure fair competition and a level playing field globally. Europe is at the forefront of climate action. It has a key role to play in ensuring harmonisation at international level, in a consistent and ambitious way.

 

3. Integrating the economic and social dimensions in the future EU taxonomy is key to ensure a stronger approach towards sustainability. These dimensions, together with environmental considerations, will help make fully informed and successful investment decisions for the future.

 

4. Multi-stakeholder dialogue matters. The involvement and collaboration of all sectors will ensure the proper expertise is around that table to build an EU Taxonomy that delivers for investors, the environment and the economy.

Watch our webinar on Youtube

https://youtu.be/xrMFhIWsEZE

Read more

Renovation Wave: How cogeneration will bring benefits for citizens, businesses and the climate

 

Cogeneration for efficient and smart buildings Cogeneration technology for hydrogen Stationary fuel cells for green buildings Cogeneration and heat pumps: win-win

Conclusions

1. Buildings are key to deliver EU’s Green Deal. They represent 40% of EU’s energy consumption and are responsible for 36% of GHG emissions. More than 70% of building are energy inefficient and 80% of the existing buildings stock will still be standing by 2050.

 

2. The seasonality and high levels of heating and hot water demand in buildings make it a challenging sector to decarbonise. Even when we electrify efficiently (i.e. with heat pumps in buildings with 50% less demand) overall power demand is expected to increase by around 50% and power peaks could be three times as high compared to today. Covering this additional demand with additional renewable electricity may prove difficult at times of no wind or sun.

 

3. Decarbonising buildings requires an ambitious Renovation Wave that will focus on a mix of efficient, flexible and renewable energy solutions. Silver bullet solutions are not sufficient to deliver on the buildings trilemma: highly sustainable buildings, customer affordability and comfort & energy security.

 

4. Cogeneration applications can deliver key benefits as part of a mix of building solutions such as cogeneration and district heating, stationary fuel cells in cogeneration mode and cogeneration units and heatpumps complementing each other.

5. To ensure the Renovation Wave delivers for consumers and the EU economy, key principles must be considered: 1) improve efficiency of buildings both by reducing demand and supplying energy more efficiently; 2) develop robust criteria to ensure that end use electrification is efficient and renewable; 3) consider buildings as part of an integrated systems approach, by fostering synergies between end use electrification & cogeneration at site or district level; 4) allow for renewable and decarbonised gases uptake in buildings, including their efficient use with cogeneration.

Watch our webinar on Youtube

https://youtu.be/KIOzj7IkB08

Read more

Smart Integration of Local Energy Systems

As Europe embarks on an ambitious decarbonisation journey, smart sector integration has been identified as a key enabler of our climate and energy objectives. To ensure that European industries, cities and domestic consumers are at the centre of the energy transition, net-zero carbon must be delivered across all sectors and energy systems at local level. Energy experts from Veolia, INNIO and Gas Réseau Distribution France demonstrate how cogeneration applications efficiently link electricity, heat and gas, for lower emissions, higher shares of renewables and overall a more flexible and cost-effective energy system.

Smart systems integration with cogeneration Kiel Project: Integrating flexible power and efficient district heating Nice Smart Valley: Integrated distributed energy for Cote d’Azur
Introduction icon Kiel presentation image Nice Smart Valley image

 

Conclusions

1. Cogeneration in buildings, industry and districts complements end-use electrification, ensuring lower emissions, higher integration of renewables and overall a more flexible and cost-effective energy system.

 

2. The Coastal Power Plant K.I.E.L project highlights the synergies between efficient and flexible cogeneration, district heating and power markets. Kiel’s Intelligent Power Solution enables the city of Kiel to reduce its power and heat carbon emissions by 70%, while serving 73,000 customers with heat and maximising the use of variable renewables from the power grids.

 

3. Nice Smart Valley, a pilot of the Interflex EU project, is another example of systems integration of power and gas grids through hybrid flexibilities. The pilot demonstrated how synergies between hybrid heating and cogeneration can help stabilise power grids and bring value to local communities. A resilient energy transition to net-zero carbon involves a mix of systems integration solutions like cogeneration and hybrid systems, storable renewable gases and intermittent renewable electricity.

 

4. To be successful, energy systems integration should take a broad approach and enable all future proof solutions to work together across different sectors. Buildings in particular will enable systems integration through a mix complementing solutions, including efficient and renewable electrification, district heating and cogeneration. To achieve this, integrated strategic planning of power, heat and gas infrastructure must be undertaken at local level, near the consumer. Moreover, system level energy efficiency will be key to ensure cost-effectiveness of integration.

Watch our Webinar on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/HX9r0qOOeFs

Read more

Industry delivering the European Green Deal

Companies are successfully shifting away from inefficient energy use to state-of-the-art technologies integrating renewables and decreasing costs and CO2 emissions. New energy solutions keep Europe competitive and drive us towards climate neutrality with benefits for local communities. In this webinar, Solar Turbines and Turboden present how their cogeneration technologies integrate renewables and do more with less energy.

Introduction to principels and benefits of cogeneration  Solar Turbines – Doing more with less Turboden – Green Industrial processes benefitting local communities

 

Conclusions

1. The European Industry needs secure heat supply at all times to preserve its competitiveness. Medium and high temperature heat supply (often in the form of steam) has to be guaranteed at all times.

 

2. Decarbonise industrial heat cost-effectively. As medium and high temperature heat cannot be electrified either technically or cost-effectively, there will remain a need for molecule-based heat in the future. Moreover, a large amount of heat in industry is wasted and possibilities to reuse it should be considered.

 

3. Foster high-efficiency cogeneration to build tomorrow’s industryDo more with less.

  • Energy efficiency: modernising and improving the energy efficiency of existing industrial processes to deliver signification CO2 reductions today.
  • Resource efficiency: making industry ready to use the decarbonised and renewable fuels of the future like biogas, hydrogen and synthetic gases – relatively more expensive and limited in availability – in the most efficient way, for cost saving purposes and to leave more of them available to decarbonise other sectors
  • Smart system integration: Connecting locally heat, gas and electricity networks and ensure most efficient conversions among them. This will be key to cost-effectively integrate substantial amounts of renewable energy in the economy and provide energy where and when needed.
  • Industrial symbiosis: enabling the cascading use of excess heat locally to benefit neighbouring businesses and local communities with affordable and secure heat supply.
  • Increase grid resiliency: Industry self-producing and consuming its electricity, reducing pressure on electricity grids from peak demand, supplying efficient and flexible electricity to grids, decreasing the need for expensive electricity grid reinforcement and capacity reserves.

Watch our Webinar on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/qKEx-z9XSY4

Read more