Brussels, 5 February 2025

The JOULIA project officially launched on January 21, 2025, at CIRCE – Centro Tecnológico headquarters in Zaragoza, Spain. This ambitious initiative marks a critical step in revolutionising industrial heating processes, addressing the dual challenges of decarbonisation and energy efficiency for energy-intensive industries. Funded by the Horizon Europe Programme, JOULIA is focusing on demonstrating sustainable, fully electrified heating technologies in industrial contexts.

A vision for decarbonisation and efficiency

The industrial sector accounts for 50% of global heat energy consumption and 40% of CO₂ emissions, largely due to its reliance on fossil fuels for heating processes. Current systems are inefficient, with significant energy losses and environmental impacts. As Europe strives to meet the targets of the Fit for 55 package, REPowerEU, and the Net-Zero Industry Act, electrification of industrial processes emerges as a vital solution. Medium- to high-temperature processes (100–500 °C), particularly in the rubber and plastics sectors, offer significant potential for clean and renewable energy integration.

Innovative technologies for real-world impact

The JOULIA project addresses these challenges by demonstrating the feasibility and sustainability of fully electrified heating technologies such as induction and microwave heating. These innovative, contactless heating methods will be applied to two key processes in the rubber and plastics sector:

  • Rubber vulcanisation: An induction heating system will be retrofitted into a rotary curing press in a demo site in Italy, to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
  • Multilayer pipe production: Microwave heating will replace conventional adhesive activation in a demo site in Poland, improving energy efficiency, precision, and product quality.

 

Building on existing prototypes, the project aims to optimise these technologies to enhance energy efficiency, flexibility, and integration of renewable energy sources. Advanced digital modeling, process simulations, and predictive maintenance tools will help validate these technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, ensuring their safety, reliability, and scalability.

In addition to technological development, JOULIA recognises the importance of social impact. The project will focus on job creation, worker safety, and the development of new skills through targeted training resources. It also aims to create business models that promote sustainable development and ensure the long-term viability of electrified heating solutions. These efforts will help facilitate the widespread adoption and replication of JOULIA’s technologies across other energy-intensive industries, driving both technological, economic and social benefits.

A collaborative effort

The JOULIA consortium unites 16 partners from 7 European countries, including technology developers, industrial stakeholders, and leading research organisations. With a total budget of €5.3 million, the four – year project leverages a wealth of expertise from previous national and international initiatives and active participation in key associations such as Process4Planet, Alliance of Energy Intensive Industries and the European Microwave Association. This partnership drives innovation and aims to deliver impactful solutions for sustainable industrial processes.

Quote: “JOULIA pioneers contactless electromagnetic heating systems, eliminating fossil fuel dependency while achieving better thermal efficiency. Advanced adaptive control algorithms and digital twin models enable precise energy delivery. This isn’t just about electrification—it’s about redefining the industrial environment to align with Europe’s climate ambitions. With TRL 7 validation, we’re proving these solutions are feasible in real-world industrial environments, translating the advances of JOULIA into energy savings and measurable CO₂ reduction.”

Miguel Zarzuela, Project Coordinator, Project Manager at CIRCE – Research Centre & Juan Blanco Technical leader, Researcher at CIRCE – Research Centre

PRESS CONTACT AND SOCIAL MEDIA

White Research: Dissemination Managers

Maria Kontogianni: [email protected]

Stela Ntevetzaki: [email protected]

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