Brussels, Belgium – On May 28, 2025, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) hosted its 1st Clustering Event on Efficient, Sustainable Energy Use in Industry. This workshop, organised as part of the Set-IndEU project with support from Zabala Innovation Europe, A.SPIRE, and EERA – The European Energy Research Alliance, brought together experts, stakeholders, and representatives from Horizon Europe-funded initiatives. The event served as a crucial platform for fostering collaboration and accelerating the decarbonisation of industrial processes across Europe.
The event’s primary focus was on exploring solutions for industrial decarbonisation, with particular emphasis on thermal storage, heat recovery, electrification technologies, and flexible industrial processes. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions aimed at identifying synergies, sharing best practices, and charting pathways for scaling these innovations to meet ambitious industrial decarbonisation targets set by the European Commission.
A key highlight of the event was a presentation by the European Commission’s DG ENERGY on the Clean Industrial Deal. This adopted initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to driving the transition to energy-efficient and sustainable technologies in industrial processes. The Commission outlined several key measures to accelerate this shift, including ensuring access to affordable energy, supporting the creation of lead markets for sustainable technologies, facilitating investments in decarbonisation, embedding circularity, strengthening global market access, and promoting skill development for the green transition. DG ENER also announced upcoming recommendations for grid operators to ensure tariffs foster the deployment of efficient and sustainable technologies, acknowledging anticipated increases in grid costs.
The event featured several thematic sessions. Juan Blanco Ortiz, our technical coordinator from CIRCE, had the opportunity to present the JOULIA Project during the “Electrification and Decarbonization of Heating” session. JOULIA is pioneering the development of multiphase induction heating systems, with the ambitious goal of eliminating thermal fluids from industrial processes and removing the need for liquid cooling in the induction system itself. This innovation represents a significant step towards cleaner, more efficient, and more robust industrial operations.
“It is always a win to bring together great minds and initiatives, searching for new ways to collaborate and improve,” stated Juan Blanco Ortiz, reflecting on the value of the event.
In addition to the session on electrification and heating decarbonization, parallel sessions explored other critical areas: “thermal energy storage and heat upgrading” and “circular heat and flexible industrial processes.”
The CINEA clustering event served as an opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and fostering future collaborations. The active participation of projects similar to JOULIA underscores the collective commitment within the EU to advancing innovative solutions for the energy transition and driving the adoption of technologies that will ensure a decarbonised industrial future. As Juan Blanco Ortiz aptly said, “It’s always inspiring to share ideas, see what others are building, and feel part of a broader movement driving innovation for sustainability in Europe.”
