CaLby2030

CaLby2030 focuses on the demonstration at TRL6 of circulating fluidized bed (CFB)-based Calcium Looping (CaL)-based CO₂ capture systems, starting from three pilot plants in Europe operating under industry-relevant conditions and projecting this technology towards large-scale commercial deployment in key high-emitting sectors by 2030 (target sectors: steel, cement plants, WtE).  Specifically, Iren's contribution to the project will take the form of support for the definition of test protocols to be implemented at foreign demonstration plants and the identification of an existing/new WtE on which to carry out the pre-engineering and integration study of a CFB-CaL system with the definition of a first retrofit concept.

 

Woodcircles

Woodcircles aims to study and demonstrate solutions to enable the recycling and reuse of wood waste from construction and demolition activities. Iren's role (which participates with Iren Ambiente as a third party) is included in the Italian pilot involving the City of Torino and Environment Park. On certain demolition sites of public buildings, a dedicated collection and separation of wooden materials is organized at pilot level, which is then sent to the wood recycling plant in Vercelli. The products are then used to create simple elements of urban furniture to be used within the city of Torino.

 

FlexCHESS

The FlexCHESS project aims to study the use of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) of different kinds (e.g.: batteries, electric vehicles, flexible loads) for balancing electricity grids, evaluating possible flexibility services offered by ESS. Iren and Iren Energia are involved in the project and engaged in the development of the Italian pilot in one of Iren’s facility in Torino, with the aim of studying the potential of a Virtual Energy Storage System, exploiting energy systems already present within the site (refrigeration units for space cooling, electric vehicles charging stations and a PV system) and installing a battery supplied by the project partner Toshiba, to study electrical flexibility services. 

 

DATA-CELLAR

The project intends to develop a platform (Data Space) capable of collecting data from different sources operating in the Energy Communities sector, to allow new business models related to data interchange. With reference to the operational data generated by the nascent Energy Communities, a particular focus will be placed on the aspects of interoperability and standardization of data interchange protocols, data privacy (also via blockchain), data enhancement with tokenization mechanisms. The DATA-CELLAR project allows Iren to compare itself with European peers on the issue of Energy Communities by building a benchmark of best-practices (also thanks to the data shared by partners) and identifying development trends for the application of the EU REDII legislation, investigate possible business models deriving not only from the sale of energy commodities but also from the tokenization of data, strengthen its network of service providers for Energy Communities (e.g. optimization algorithms) from which to draw to convey products and services Iren has the task of providing the use cases of the Italian pilot represented by a Renewable Energy community in the "rural" area (which can include loads of different kinds, from public buildings to single-family houses); a Renewable Energy Community in an "urban" area (focused on loads from mainly residential buildings). For both case studies, Iren will make available to the project information on the plant structure of the communities, as well as the operational data monitored in real-time. It will also have to support the partners in defining the requirements and needs of a utility for the effective exploitation of data (e.g. limits and constraints, requirements of Energy Community management algorithms, IT requirements).

The DataCellar project will allow Iren Group to collaborate with European peers on Energy Communities, building a best-practice benchmark (leveraging shared data from partners) and identifying development trends for implementing the EU REDII directive. It will explore potential business models not only from energy commodity sales but also from data tokenization, while strengthening Iren's network of service providers for Energy Communities (e.g., optimization algorithms) to offer tailored products and services.

Iren’s role in the project includes providing use cases for the Italian pilot, consisting of a Renewable Energy Community in a "rural" setting (which may involve various types of loads, from public buildings to single-family homes) and a Renewable Energy Community in an "urban" setting (focused on predominantly residential buildings). For both case studies, Iren will provide information on the communities' infrastructure as well as real-time operational data. Additionally, Iren will support partners in defining the requirements and needs of a utility for effective data valorization (e.g., limits and constraints, management algorithm requirements for Energy Communities, and IT requirements).

 

TIPS4PED

The project aims to develop an Integrated Assessment Tool to support municipalities in planning urban actions for the development of Positive Energy Districts and its potential will be tested in 4 different European cities: Torino, Cork, Budapest and Kozani. The Municipality of Torino has expressed interest in participating in the project with a pilot, identifying a district consisting of two office buildings owned by the Municipality and managed by Iren Smart Solutions, one of which is equipped with a PV system on the roof and the other with a car park in which Iren’s wallboxes and the Energy Center building are being installed. Iren Group is represented in the project by Iren and Iren Smart Solutions to offer support to the Municipality of Torino for the management of the pilot (energy diagnosis, connection and arrangement of the existing photovoltaic system and installation of meters on production that communicate real-time data), for the study of Smart Charging algorithms from a Demand Response perspective, market validation of solutions to increase production per available square meter that will be purchased from PoliTo-Energy Center and installed on the roof of the same (e.g. PV canopies, bifacial PV, walkable PV, micro-wind, vertical PV on the façade), supply of hourly consumption data of the PoD concerned and analysis of MV/LV network configurations, identification in the metropolitan area of Torino of areas suitable to become Positive Energy Districts also defining the technical requirements and constraints necessary to really implement the use cases in the Italian regulatory and economic context.

 

EU-DREAM

The project is focused on the creation of digital tools and services to actively involve consumers in the European Union's energy market, to simplify the management of the relationship between the consumer and the energy grid, providing an AI-based assistant. EU-DREAM wants to develop a Digital Twin of domestic systems, based on real-time data acquired by sensors, for the analysis of energy markets and the creation of new consumer-oriented business models. Living Labs will be set up in 6 European countries, including Italy, where Iren plays a leadership role. The Iren Group, represented in the project by Iren and Iren Mercato, is involved in the following activities: support for the mapping of the devices typically installed at users throughout the country; investigation of interoperability between different types of communication devices and protocols, to facilitate remote control in the context of Demand-Response and energy flexibility at residential level; creation of a testbed environment (lab) to test the interoperability of protocols, the feasibility of remote control between different devices and the effectiveness of control responses in a perspective of flexibility; identification of 1-2 residential homes among Iren customers to carry out a flexibility test with real users. Customers will be provided with a kit of devices previously tested in the laboratory, appropriately installed, in order to analyse the technical feasibility of different flexibility models and the acceptability of the customer; - experimentation of new business models analysed by varying energy market and flexibility processes and models, allowing experimentation with the adoption of AI-based digital tools.

 

BRIDES

The project, developed in collaboration with the startup Reefilla and funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, has three main objectives: to develop a high-capacity, high-power portable charging device for electric vehicles, equipped with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) functionalities; to integrate the device with an optimal energy management system through smart charging algorithms in order to improve energy efficiency and reduce peak loads on the power grid; and to test and validate the integrated system while defining the business model to be adopted for the solution’s rollout and the establishment of sales procedures. This integrated system makes it possible to transform electric vehicles into a resource serving Energy Communities and ancillary energy markets, with the goal of maximizing local renewable energy self-consumption and meeting grid flexibility demands.

 

ReBioCycle

The ReBioCycle project, proposed within the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and coordinated by University College Dublin (UCD), aims to demonstrate the circularity of bioplastics, enhancing them from the waste stream, through different material recovery processes, to obtain objects and packaging again. The project intends to demonstrate that bioplastics can be recovered from the waste stream and to obtain high-quality bioplastics from the waste stream through different processes. The activities will be carried out at the scale of pre-industrial plants (TRL 7-8). The ReBioCycle consortium wants to cover with the project the phases of collection and separation of bioplastics through selection of the waste stream, recycling of polymers through mechanical, chemical, enzymatic and microbial processes, to obtain high-purity monomers, validation of the repolymerization process of the products obtained from recovery, evaluation of the technical-economic, environmental and social impact by LCA.

 

Rain4Utility

Fesr 2021-2027 - OS 1.1 - Azione 1.1.1

The project aims to create a dashboard (Decision Support System) for near real-time forecasting of rainfall events (nowcasting), which will be associated with potential flooding scenarios in urban areas and triggers of surface rain-induced landslides in areas covered by water or energy networks. This enables multi-utilities to manage ordinary operations and "emergency response" conditions for assigned intensity scenarios of rain "studied" and recognized through measurements acquired via a network of field sensors. This approach intends to reduce management and maintenance costs by intervening where necessary, contributing to the sustainability and resilience of the territory.