Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CLUSTER-INN (Cluster for innovative energy (CLUSTER-INN))
Período documentado: 2023-11-01 hasta 2025-10-31
Energy generation and use obtained new urgency the last year when Russia invaded Ukraine. European and other countries encountered harsh realities when problems related to energy availability and affordability had to be tackled. An urgent need for faster and more efficient transitioning towards renewable sources is evident. The project proposal lies within priority research and innovation. It intends to bring together the scientists and practitioners and involve experienced researchers and early-stage researchers in social sciences, electrical engineering, physics and environmental sciences. Scientists will interact with managers of large-scale solar park clusters in Egypt and Morocco, which would allow understanding specifics and scale of problems related to renewable energy production, use and trade. An interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary approach here may lead to novel solutions, which may have important policy implications. We intend to build a cluster for innovative energy, which will involve other clusters already created in the former Horizon 2020 and other projects. The cluster for innovative energy would be a cluster of clusters allowing broad engagement of scientists, practitioners, policymakers, NGOs and other stakeholders. In the context of the war, innovative solutions stemming from the inter-sectoral cooperation of geographically remoted partners can become resilience drivers. The project is based on previous work but goes beyond since it generates and strengthens long-term collaborations via training researchers, encouraging geographical mobility, and fostering exchange between sectors and disciplines.
We raise the following questions, which are our research and innovation objectives:
1) What are green business models; what are pros and cons, where bottlenecks are; which elements of the green business models lack feasibility, what could be done internally and externally (what policies are needed);
Results
Wide range of green business models were examined; the primary sources of information served producers of solar panels in Europe. Despite there is unanimous agreement that green business models are necessary for further sustainable development, very substantial obstacles were revealed: there are no production standards, which would allow to reach technological uniformity and sizes of solar panels. Standards are necessary for organizing recycling of absolute panels, otherwise, difficulties emerge when used solar panels have to be dismantled and sent for recycling. The producers unanimously agree, that without clearly articulated policies circularity of produced solar panels is not feasible at the current moment.
2) What is the state of the art in research and innovation in the solar industry? What are the solutions for the future? What is the state of research and practices regarding the reuse of already installed solar panels? Are there any initiatives to standardize production in order to make this reuse more efficient and circular? Which companies will be involved in this activity (manufacturers or specialized companies)? (Available expertise: USMBA)
Results
The developed studies have shown that, thanks to the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches to renewable energy, opportunities for resilience toward renewable energy field will continue to grow in Lithuania in particular, in Europe in general, and in Africa.
Additional information on the crucial importance of energy storage systems, particularly batteries, for improving the stability and reliability of renewable energy systems. They provided a comprehensive overview of the different types of batteries and how each type fits into large-scale renewable energy systems, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
3) What is sociological context, which in fact, affects behavioural attitudes of households; are they willing to pay extra for green energy and other green resources; the households are not only consumers, they are shareholders and other stakeholders; are they willing to undertake responsibility for life conditions of future generations.
The sociological context is still under investigation with 3 papers already published. the consortium partners developed a questionnaire using conventional methodological approaches in sociology and currently are collecting primary data in all countries, in which project consortium organizations are located.
Concluding remark:
The objectives are being implemented according to schedule. Over 93 percent of planned secondments for the first period has been implemented, 51 researchers participated in technology transfer through secondments; 24 scientific papers published; total number of publications is 49 (including scientific papers, conference papers, abstracts and posters).
1) What are green business models; what are pros and cons, where bottlenecks are; which elements of the green business models lack feasibility, what could be done internally and externally (what policies are needed);
Results
Wide range of green business models were examined; the primary sources of information served producers of solar panels in Europe. Despite there is unanimous agreement that green business models are necessary for further sustainable development, very substantial obstacles were revealed: there are no production standards, which would allow to reach technological uniformity and sizes of solar panels. Standards are necessary for organizing recycling of absolute panels, otherwise, difficulties emerge when used solar panels have to be dismantled and sent for recycling. The producers unanimously agree, that without clearly articulated policies circularity of produced solar panels is not feasible at the current moment.
2) What is the state of the art in research and innovation in the solar industry? What are the solutions for the future? What is the state of research and practices regarding the reuse of already installed solar panels? Are there any initiatives to standardize production in order to make this reuse more efficient and circular? Which companies will be involved in this activity (manufacturers or specialized companies)? (Available expertise: USMBA)
Results
The developed studies have shown that, thanks to the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches to renewable energy, opportunities for resilience toward renewable energy field will continue to grow in Lithuania in particular, in Europe in general, and in Africa.
Additional information on the crucial importance of energy storage systems, particularly batteries, for improving the stability and reliability of renewable energy systems. They provided a comprehensive overview of the different types of batteries and how each type fits into large-scale renewable energy systems, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
3) What is sociological context, which in fact, affects behavioural attitudes of households; are they willing to pay extra for green energy and other green resources; the households are not only consumers, they are shareholders and other stakeholders; are they willing to undertake responsibility for life conditions of future generations.
The sociological context is still under investigation with 3 papers already published. the consortium partners developed a questionnaire using conventional methodological approaches in sociology and currently are collecting primary data in all countries, in which project consortium organizations are located.
Concluding remark:
The objectives are being implemented according to schedule. Over 93 percent of planned secondments for the first period has been implemented, 51 researchers participated in technology transfer through secondments; 24 scientific papers published; total number of publications is 49 (including scientific papers, conference papers, abstracts and posters).
The project implementation significantly contributes to the measurable improvement of the state of the art in research and innovation within Europe, Mediterranean region, and, through network of participating partners, to long-lasting positive socio- and techno-economic impact on the world.
The project generated knowledge transfer in the following way:
1) due to its international nature and knowledge exchange programme, the project contributed to decreasing fragmentation, isolation and compartmentalization of national development efforts, contributed to society and industrial companies’ achievements. The project is based on the existing policy dialogues and promoted the development of long-term durable research partnerships. Its major added value and cost effectiveness that joint research allowed exploitation the resources and scientific excellence of the partners, via exchanged know-how and transferred technologies, international research cooperation helped stimulate socio-economic development and global competitiveness. The knowledge transfer was generated via the following tools: intersectoral, international secondments, tracings, seminars, conferences, engagement with wide range of stakeholders, such as researchers, practitioners, policy makers, NGOs, householders;
2) Contribution of the project to the improvement of the research and innovation potential within Europe and worldwide was achieved through the trainings, seminars and conferences, which enhanced qualification and employability of participants, contributing to their international research and innovation potential;
The project generated knowledge transfer in the following way:
1) due to its international nature and knowledge exchange programme, the project contributed to decreasing fragmentation, isolation and compartmentalization of national development efforts, contributed to society and industrial companies’ achievements. The project is based on the existing policy dialogues and promoted the development of long-term durable research partnerships. Its major added value and cost effectiveness that joint research allowed exploitation the resources and scientific excellence of the partners, via exchanged know-how and transferred technologies, international research cooperation helped stimulate socio-economic development and global competitiveness. The knowledge transfer was generated via the following tools: intersectoral, international secondments, tracings, seminars, conferences, engagement with wide range of stakeholders, such as researchers, practitioners, policy makers, NGOs, householders;
2) Contribution of the project to the improvement of the research and innovation potential within Europe and worldwide was achieved through the trainings, seminars and conferences, which enhanced qualification and employability of participants, contributing to their international research and innovation potential;