To meet the European Green Deal transformation for the European power sector, electricity demand is expected to jump from 20% to nearly 50%. Distributed and intermittent energy renewable resources has introduced bidirectional and complex power flows, leading to numerous bottlenecks and stability challenges. To address these challenges, the EU’s Energy Digitalization Action Plan outlines the need for substantial investments focused on the distribution grid. October 2023 saw the introduction of the EU Action Plan for Grids, which emphasizes the optimization and smarter utilization of existing grid infrastructures. A key innovation is Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) systems, which use IoT networks on power lines to make real-time adjustments, maximizing capacity and reducing congestion. However, these systems have mainly been used in traditional grids and haven't fully integrated innovative approaches like High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors, operating at higher temperatures with minimal sag, offer up to 33% enhanced transmission capacities and are increasingly seen as replacements for traditional conductors. Nonetheless, the integration of HTLS technologies with advanced DLR systems. HEROGRID aims to bridge with new AI-based DLR models specifically designed for HTLS powerlines. Additionally, the project seeks to pioneer IoT devices that are not only compatible with HTLS environments but are also self-powered through innovative energy harvesting technologies including piezoelectric and thermoelectric systems combined with efficient power management system. HEROGRID enhances operational efficiency and cuts maintenance costs for renewable energy infrastructures. By integrating advanced technologies into the European power grid, it supports the EU's transition to sustainable energy, enabling new business models for grid operators. Aligned with Horizon-Cl5-2024-D2-01-04, HEROGRID promises substantial contributions to energy distribution and transmission.

Buildings account for around 40% of total energy use and 36% of CO2 emissions in Europe . According to the recast Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) all new buildings after 2020 should reach nearly zero energy levels, meaning that they should demonstrate very low energy needs mainly covered by renewable energy sources. EU 2030 targets aim at least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels), at least 32% share for renewable energy, at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency , and 80% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 . Therefore, an urgent need is present for a deep market transformation by deploying efficient materials and technologies in the construction sector to support the real implementation of nearly zero-energy/emission and plus-energy buildings with high indoor environment quality across Europe. As energy consumption of buildings depend strongly on the climate and the local weather conditions, additional aspects arise (such as environmental, technical, user experience, functional and design aspects) on the selection of the appropriate material and technical components installation for a successful implementation of nZEBs. Further, this selection of materials and design for climate should be based on a circular economy perspective considering environmental, economic and social effects along value chains. Better utilisation of products and resources via reuse-repair-recycling is essential in achieving a transformation from a linear to a circular economy model. Many of the current materials and technical systems still have varying degree of difficulty in accomplishing a circular perspective. Material and technical system development in a ZEB framework should focus on building thermal performance improvement, high quality of indoor environment according to occupants’ comfort and health needs, while reducing the emission intensity in terms of production, maintenance, assembling and operation.

EdgeAI-trust aims to develop a domain-independent architecture for decentralized edge AI along with HW/SW edge AI solutions and tools, which enable fully collaborative AI and learning at the edge. The edge AI technologies address key challenges faced by Europe's industrial and societal sectors such energy efficiency, system complexity and sustainability. EdgeAI-trust will enable large-scale edge AI solutions that enable interoperability, upgradeability, reliability, safety, security and societal acceptance with a focus on explainability and robustness. Toolchains will provide standardized interfaces for developing, optimizing and validating edge AI solutions in heterogeneous systems. The generic results will be instantiated for automated vehicles, production and agriculture, thus offering innovation potential not only in the generic HW/SW technologies and tools, but also in the three target domains. These technological innovations are complemented with business strategies and community building, ensuring the widespread uptake of the innovations in Europe. EdgeAI-trust will establish sustainable impact by building open edge AI platforms and ecosystems, with a focus on standardization, supply chain integrity, environmental impact, benchmarking frameworks, and support for open-source solutions. The consortium consists of major suppliers and OEMs encompassing a broad range of application domains, supported by leading research and academic organizations. By embracing the opportunity to specialize in Edge AI, Europe can maintain its position in the global context, especially as it aligns with decentralized and privacy-driven European policy. Furthermore, as AI is closely connected with the Green Deal, this project can provide proper solutions for environmental issues. Ultimately, the project will enable AI to be connected with other strong sectors and industries, improving the innovation process and decision-making in Europe.

Climate warming is driven by increased concentrations of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) e.g., CO2 and CH4, in the atmosphere. Existing observatories are able to capture GHG information for large-scale global assessments, but short-term natural variability and climate-driven changes in atmospheric CO2 and CH4 remain less known. There is also currently a lack of sufficiently precise, autonomous, and cost-efficient GHG sensors for GHG monitoring at sufficient spatial scale, and in hard-to-reach areas. MISO will develop and demonstrate an autonomous in-situ observation platform for use in hard to reach areas (Arctic, wetlands), for detecting and quantifying carbon dioxide and methane gasses, using a combination of stationary and mobile (drone) solutions and requiring minimum on-site intervention when deployed. To achieve this objective, MISO will improve detection limit and accuracy of a NDIR GHG sensor, which will then be used in three observing platforms (a static tower, a static chamber and a UAV-mounted sensor) operated with the help of a central base unit. All elements will be designed for operation in harsh environments and with minimum human intervention. The static observatories will be powered by a unique geothermal device. Communication between the three observatories and a data cloud will use a combination of P2P, G4/G5/LTE, LORAWAN and wifi technologies. The specifications of the platform will be co-developed with stakeholders from academia, monitoring and measurement systems, industry and policy. A clear DCE strategy and focus on short-term impact management and medium and long-term commercialization will target several user groups including industries and representatives of main monitoring systems and infrastructures (e.g., ICOS). This will support innovative governance models and science-based policy design, implementation and monitoring. Sustainability performance and competitiveness in the domains covered by HE Cluster 6 will be enhanced.

START project primary objective is to build an innovation ecosystem in the European Union (EU) based on the development of sustainable and economically viable thermoelectric (TE) waste heat harvesting systems to be applied in heavy industry and in maritime industry as well as primary power source for off-grid sensors and IoT devices. This objective will be achieved by incorporating abundant sulphides (mainly tetrahedrite mineral series), at present an environment hazard in mine tailings, collected in five European countries, in the production of advanced sulphide p-type TE thermoelements. In contrast, current commercial TE devices incorporate p-type and n-type TE thermoelements that are produced from expensive and rare elements, namely tellurium, which is predominantly sourced in China. The impact of START project approach on endorsing a more sustainable and resilient EU comes from three inputs. First, by reducing EU?s dependence on primary critical raw materials. Secondly, through the promotion of circular economy processes that will create value in EU by building a strategic ecosystem based on a high-abundant mineral. Just recently, it was demonstrated by our team that the mineral was amenable to processing to single phase p-type tetrahedrite. Thirdly, by the production of TE energy harvesting systems offering a contribution to the reduction of fossil fuels consumption with a great impact on the increase of the overall efficiency of energy production and consumption systems, as well as on the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions. For that, START project aggregates research organizations, with strong background and knowledge on geology, materials science and renewable energies, and industrial organizations that guarantee the entire production and exploitation supply chain.