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