Project description
Smart tools for clean heat
Decarbonising industry and heating networks are among Europe’s toughest energy challenges. Large-scale solar thermal (ST) systems can deliver clean heat, but adoption is slowed by costs, risks and limited digital integration. Without smarter and more efficient tools, investors hesitate, operators face inefficiencies and renewable heat lags behind electricity. Hybrid solutions can help ensure reliability and flexibility. With this in mind, the EU-funded DIGISOLAR project is developing DS Suite, a digital platform that uses AI, digital twins and predictive control to optimise hybrid ST systems throughout their lifecycle. Tested at four European sites, DS Suite will support planning, predictive maintenance and real-time optimisation, cutting risks and costs while driving solar thermal adoption and Europe’s clean energy leadership.
Objective
DigiSolar is set to revolutionize large-scale solar thermal (ST) systems by seamlessly integrating them with other renewable energy sources, enabling hybrid-ST solutions that drive decarbonization, electrification, and energy flexibility. This transformative approach will accelerate the energy transition for industrial process heat and district heating networks, making clean energy more accessible, cost-effective, and future-ready. At its core, DigiSolar will deliver DS Suite, a unified digital platform designed to optimize every stage of hybrid solar thermal system’s lifetime. DS Suite leverages advanced digital twin technology with AI-driven fault detection, supply and demand forecasting and model predictive control (MPC), as well as life cycle assessment. The DS Suite will empower planners, operators, and end-users with cutting-edge tools for performance verification, predictive maintenance, and real-time energy optimization. Its investor-trusted planning capabilities and user-friendliness, currently lacking in the market, will unlock large-scale solar thermal investments, accelerate solar thermal market penetration, by de-risking and boosting deployment. DigiSolar’s innovative business models further enhance cost-competitiveness, lowering return-on-investment periods while ensuring a reliable, carbon-free energy supply. Backed by a highly skilled consortium of 3 leading R&D institutions and 9 industry partners—including solar thermal technology providers, engineering firms, utilities, and digital solution experts—the project brings together the expertise needed to confidently develop, validate, and deploy DS Suite at scale in 4 demo-sites towards 100% decarbonisation industrial, district heating and cross-sectoral applications of solar thermal in South and West Europe. By bridging the gap between technology and implementation, DigiSolar will strengthen Europe’s leadership in renewable energy, paving the way for a resilient and sustainable energy future.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy solar thermal
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.2 - Energy Supply
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08212 SANT LLORENC SAVALL
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.