To advance aligned priorities in Greece and Turkiye, the “Hub Board” developed a strategic roadmap outlining future actions, mitigation strategies, and recommendations that emphasizes 4 main actions: Greece-Türkiye Bilateral Call; Energy Communities; Participation in Sectoral Events; Identifying Market Gaps and Proposing Solutions. A Joint Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) was further developed through a detailed analysis of the national and international networks, human resources, opportunities emerging from the national energy transition policies & partnerships, and the global and national economic constraints and changing market dynamics. An important implication was the alignment of technological priorities and R&I interests in two encapsulating points: results produced during our project’s R&I activities and the alignment to existing SRIAs and other collaboration platforms relevant at EU level. A Bi-Lateral Greek-Turkish call was opened that will support the post-project sustainability and expansion of the SolarHub activities.
To strengthen innovation and entrepreneurial capacities and promote Open Science within our Hub, SolarHub executed a large number of activities including workshops, webinars, special sessions, other in-person events, inter-partner / cross-border mobility, and mentoring. A highlight is the creation of a “SolarSparks” initiative targeting promising young university students talent that aims to strengthen the Hub’s human resource capacities by “Giving our SolarSparks a Reason to Stay.” The 1st phase of SolarHub’s Accelerator Programme (AP) was launched. As highlights, one participant was subsequently selected to participate in the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Food’s 2025 EWA-Empowering Women in Agriculture programme and the outcomes were showcased in a “Demo Day” in Izmir, Turkiye, that attracted a diverse set of more than 150 in-person attendees. The Hub’s capacities to develop and implement Green Business Plans that integrate technical, economic, social, environmental, training, and legislative aspects continue to be advanced and linked to SolarHub’s AP and support the commercialization of SolarHub’s 4 Pre-Designs (PDs).
In PD1, a solar thermal solution for low temperature heat applications continues to be developed with activities focused on solar thermal collector, heat storage system, and smart control, with significant advances made in developing of a dimensioning tool.
In PD2, a solar-aided Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) solution to treat agri-food residual products continues to be developed with the design being finalized, selected potential agri-food waste feedstocks being characterized, and the experimental being conducted to determine optimal conditions.
In PD3, a PV solution for power production and micro-climate creation for tree plants continues to be developed through consolidation of RP1 outcomes into a single systematic design approach that covers techno-economic, social, and regulatory aspects, including the development and streamlining of techno-economic tools.
In PD4, a PV solution for efficient crop production through light and water management continues to be advanced, with the development of seven structural and technological configurations that were tuned to regional agronomic conditions based on light distribution (PPFD), energy yield, and mechanical compatibility with crop operations.
