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Green Epile: Development and implementation of a new generation of energy piles

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GREEN EPILE (Green Epile: Development and implementation of a new generation of energy piles)

Reporting period: 2016-05-01 to 2016-08-31

The buildings sector represents 40% of the European Union’s (EU) total energy consumption, with heating/cooling systems accounting for up to 68%. The major part of this demand is still covered using fossil fuels and CO2 emissions from this sector represents 36% of the EU’s total. Reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency in buildings is today a prime objective according to the new EU directives. In line with these new regulations, shallow geothermal applications for heating/cooling of buildings have experimented lastly an expansion. The global geothermal heat pumps market revenue in 2013 was €49 billion and is estimated to reach €115.4 billion by the end of 2020, with a progressive CAGR of 13.1%. Europe accounts for almost 50% of this market: GREEN EPILE is a new generation of energy piles solving the most critical problems hindering their deployment. Several improvements have been planned: (i) a very ambitious monitoring program to guarantee the long-term exploitation, (ii) a systematization of the design steps to minimize costs due to field studies, (iii) simplification of the installation by facilitating the trimming works at the pile head, and (iv) eliminate intermediaries and shortages in the procurement chain by means of our 1-stop shop.
We have performed a Feasibility Study in which the viability of the project has been confirmed after reviewing all the relevant technical, commercial and financial aspects. It also has allowed us to define the work plan and to estimate the project budget, which will be mostly covered by the SME Instrument grant. An in-depth FTO analysis has also been carried out. After the execution of the project, our solution will be launched to the European markets.
1. Technical Tasks. A 24-months working plan for the Phase2 is presented. A very innovative monitoring system to have continuous information on the pile-soil interface, thermal design activities and re-design of the pile head are the main tasks to be executed.
2. Market Analysis: A very detailed market analysis have been performed showing that our solution has a big market opportunity. Besides our home market (France) we will start deploying GREEN EPILE in Belgium and East European countries such as Slovenia, Croatia and Romania.
3. Partnerships: we are very close to sign an agreement with a company with expertise in thermal design to found a consortium for the Phase 2.
4. FTO analysis: No FTO arises within Europe regarding the commercialization of GREEN EPILE. Depending on the results obtained during the execution of Phase 2 we will decide the way to protect our solution.
5. Business plan: A strategy based in a gradual market introduction in different European countries has been planned. Different scenarios have been described in order to follow up the development of the sales. A conservative sales scenario forecasts a revenue of €22 million for 2023.
Thanks to GREEN EPILE PINTO will become a reference company in France within the thermo-active foundations market segment. The foundation of a consortium together with a thermal designer will facilitate the deployment of our solution.
Additionally GREEN EPILE represents the opportunity for PINTO to become an international company with activity in different European countries. With this project, we will contribute to the reduction of energy consumption within the building sector. The economic benefits for the end users are also important as expenses associate with HVAC systems will be reduced to almost zero.
Special foundations works finished and pile head (after the trimming) with pipes out ready for conne