SMart and Interoperable THermal network system development

Project Information

SMITH

Grant agreement ID: 685006

DOI 10.3030/685006

Closed project

EC signature date 10 June 2015

Start date 1 July 2015

End date 31 December 2015

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost € 71 429,00

EU contribution € 50 000,00

Coordinated by

QUANTITAS ENERGY SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SMITH (SMart and Interoperable THermal network system development)

Reporting period: 2015-07-01 to 2015-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

SMITH (Smart and Interoperable Thermal Network System) is a unique product consisting of a Smart and Interoperable Thermal Network for micro-industrial areas. This product consists of an integrated system that will achieve the maximum thermal performance and efficiency in industrial micro-networks, formed by 3 to 15 companies, using a business model based on Energy Services Contracting. Therefore, the target customers of the product are the medium-size consumption industries located in industrial parks.

The Smith project offers a market solution to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions in industrial environments with high thermal demand. It is based on centralized heat generation using biomass as fuel, the implementation of an industrial district heating network and intelligent heat management by the Smith software platform.

Quantitas Energy and Factor Verde are two technological companies which present and market as a consortium this energy cost efficient solution. Quantitas Energy provides its expertise as developer of the SMITH software platform for the heat control and operation system. Factor Verde provides its biomass boiler “Green Box” and its know-how in biomass applications. Both companies together provide the package solution that optimizes the thermic demands in the industrial sector. The main aim of the product SMITH is to efficiently deliver kWht at a competitive price for industrial areas.

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

The grant agreement was signed in June 2015. From July 2015 to December 2015 Quantitas and Factor Verde have accomplished the activities according to the work plan established, moreover, from October up to middle of December other activities where developed with the assistant of the Coach. Summary of the main activities carried out along the phase I: Activities carried out by Quantitas Energy & Factor Verde
Market characterization
Technical & legal barriers in the market
Identification of user and market needs
Selection of priority countries
Competitors and stakeholders in priority countries
Base Case
Risk analysis, business model
Activities carried out by Quantitas Energy&Factor Verde with the coach assistant
SWOT analysis
Review of intellectual property
CANVAS review

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)

From the work carried out along phase 1, the need of improve thermal energy processes in industrial networks has been confirmed. The industrial sector has important demands to improve their thermal energy consumptions. The heat used in industries it has different levels of temperature demands depending of the processes. The most of the industries are not interconnected therefore do not can use thermal heat in cascade (from the higher to the lower level of temperature), therefore an important part of the heat can be wasted. Moreover most of source of heat in the industry sector is coming from fossil fuels that produce CO2 and it hazard the environment.
Nowadays, according the base case of feasibility study, the consortium is working to build a demonstration project in Europe. It will support the results of feasibility study completed in the base case and it will set the foundations to undertake phase 2 of the project. Development of the product in Phase 2 will last 18 months, after this time the product will be ready to be introduced into the target markets. In Phase I, consortium has confirmed business model and strategy that indicates the overall profitability of SMITH.

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