fRamework for Actual Cooperation on Energy on Sites and Parks

Project Information

R-ACES

Grant agreement ID: 892429

DOI

10.3030/892429

Project closed

EC signature date 11 May 2020

Start date 1 June 2020

End date 31 March 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 1 980 376,25

EU contribution

€ 1 980 376,25

Coordinated by

STICHTING S-ISPT
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - R-ACES (fRamework for Actual Cooperation on Energy on Sites and Parks)

Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The R-ACES project is an initiative promoted by 8 partners from 6 European countries, with the vision to support high-potential industry parks and clusters to become fully fledged eco-Regions that reduce emissions by at least 10 %. R-ACES means a step-change in the contribution of European Industry to the climate targets of the EU. The industry sector after all represents 25% of all energy demand – and 50% of the total cooling and heating demand on the continent; yet only 16% comes from renewables. By focusing on collective measures and clustering, the efficiency of industry can be drastically increased.

The focus of R-ACES therefore is to turn high-potential, high-impact industrial clusters into eco-Regions that achieve at least a 10% reduction in emissions. They do so by exchanging surplus energy, making extensive use of renewables and tying everything together with smart energy management systems. An eco-region is a geographic area where energy and information exchanges occur between various companies and actors to reduce waste and energy consumption. Eco-region can be centred on an (eco-)industrial park or (eco-) business park, linked to its surroundings by a 4th/5th generation district heating/cooling network.

R-ACES is the capping stone, condensing the knowledge and experience gathered throughout EU and national projects into a set of three focused tools, namely a self-assessment tool, a legal tool, and a smart energy management platform for clusters. The tools are embedded in support actions built around peer-to-peer learning, more formal coursework and webinars, and serious games. Together they enable a cluster to really become an eco-region and set up meaningful energy collaboration. The entire package of tools and support is aimed at the high-potential clusters identified in the European Thermal Roadmap. It will be validated in three eco-regions, actively deployed in another seven regions, and disseminated to identified ninety regions European wide. In addition, the tools and support methodology will be made available to third parties in a sustainable way after the end of this project.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

R-ACES developed a set of the tools, capacity building materials and reports on our experiences and best practices. All these materials, together with explanations are organized and made publicly available on the R-ACES webpage (https://r-aces.eu) to be easy findable for the public:

• The R-ACES Toolkit consisting of three practical tools, for each of the tools also an instruction manual and film are available:
o The Self-Assessment Tool helps to identify and start up new energy cooperation activities within an ecoregion.
o The Legal Decision Support Tool helps to deal with legal issues related to the development of energy cooperation activities.
o The Energy Management Platform helps to optimize and manage energy and waste streams within an ecoregion.
• The R-ACES Serious Game “Heatopoly” makes stakeholders familiar with the concept of energy cooperation and serves as a way to get to know stakeholders within an ecoregion.
• An educational environment containing materials that enable students and experts to obtain knowledge on various aspects of energy cooperation.
• A Use Case Library containing inspiring examples of energy cooperation projects
• Communication materials includng the promotion film and the brochure
• Public deliverables of the project

The tools and materials were applied in the 10-Races ecoregions in order fostering their involvement in energy cooperation in general and industrial symbiosis projects in particular. Especially at the 3 participating ecoregions (Bergamo, Antwerpen and Nyborg) application of the R-ACES methodology has played a fundamental role for the stakeholders of the ecoregion in order to develop in them the awareness and benefits that energy cooperation plays in their business.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

R-ACES tools and materials are freely available and partners will keep on using them in order to stimulate the energy cooperation projects.

R-ACES approach visual

R-ACES approach