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Environment

LIFE, the EU funding tool for the EnvironmentSince 1992, LIFE has contributed to the implementation, updating and development of EU envi-ronmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. In the Energy field, LIFE has been continuously supporting innovative projects that up-grade energy technologies and processes - both in the public and private sectors - all over the EU.

LIFE & Energysustainability

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The ENERG-ICE project focused on reduc-ing the environmental impact of cold appliances, by taking action at the design stage, where the pollu-tion caused during the product’s life cycle can best be prevented. It demonstrated an innovative hydro-carbon blowing agent – cyclopentane - to improve the insulation properties of polyurethane foams for refrigerators and freezers in a cost-efficient way.

The project team developed and used the vacuum assisted injection technology (VAI) to fill in and test the refrigerators cavities with seven new defined polyurethane formulations. Compared to current / common foaming technologies, the project achieved a significant improvement in energy efficiency of up to 8% with cyclopentane and an 11% increase with a new generation blowing agent developed during the project.

The ENERG-ICE technology offers up to 10% energy savings compared to the best-in-class appliances available (A/A+/A++ labelling). Given that ENERG-ICE can save 8 kg of CO2 emissions per year per appliance, and that refrigerators and freezers pro-duction worldwide is about 175 million units, the potential to save CO2 emissions is significant and estimated at 1.4 million tonnes annually. The sav-ings could be significantly more – around 5.5 mil-lion tonnes - if HCFCs and HFCs blown foam were replaced by the new technology developed by the project.

ENERG-ICE LIFE08 ENV/IT/000411

The DEMONSTRATION OF KDV TECH project developed the first pilot plant to adapt the catalytic depolymerisation technology for the pro-duction of high-quality diesel fuel from mixed, non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW). The method, called DieselR, is based on a new catalyser devel-oped by the project that breaks down the long carbon chains (polymers) of biodegradable waste into short-er ones, thereby producing market-ready diesel fuel.

The pilot plant built was able to treat 40 000 tonnes of waste/year (equivalent to the waste generated by 180 000 inhabitants) and produce 15 000 tonnes/year of high-quality diesel fuel. This saved some 44 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, making the technique also climate-friendly.

The process represents a clean, quick, 100% profit-able and efficient treatment for biodegradable non-recyclable urban waste fractions that holds high replicability potential. Moreover, due to the absence of nuisance smells and particles the new technol-ogy was met with higher public acceptance than conventional waste management technologies.

From a policy perspective, the DieselR technology actively contributes to the implementation of the Directives 2008/98/EC (Waste Framework Direc-tive), 1999/31/EC (Landfill Directive) and complies with the sustainability criteria for the production of biofuels and bioliquids of the Directive 2009/28/EC (Renewable energy Directive).

DEMONSTRATION OF KDV TECH LIFE09 ENV/ES/000484

The Dyemond Solar project demonstrat-ed a “screen-printing technology” for manufacturing transparent Dye-Sensitised Solar cells (DSC) that was low-cost, highly energy-efficient and easy to produce.

The product, based on the principle of photosyn-thesis which allows light to be captured in a variety of suboptimal lighting conditions, has a production yield of over 90%, is lightweight and customizable. The production method enables the solar cells to be manufactured in a variety of colours and shapes, with logos and on any material. The cells can be as-sembled to form large homogeneous surfaces, en-suring broader market penetration in solar outdoor design sensitive markets like Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).

Compared to other technologies, the DSC is stable in all light conditions, - even in low light conditions such as fog, smog or cloudy weather. Moreover, the DSC is more efficient in high temperatures thus enhancing product performance and constituting an essential comparative advantage for the Mediterranean region.

Screen printing is becoming an established, low-cost and simple production technology resulting in products with lower embodied content and with an energy payback time of less than a year.

Additionally, the fact that the manufacturing pro-cess neither requires scarce or toxic raw materials nor produces toxic emissions makes the production of DSCs truly environmentally friendly.

Dyemond Solar LIFE09 ENV/SE/000355

HOME AUTOMATION SOLAR POWER WASTE-TO-ENERGYCOLD APPLIANCES

Visit the LIFE website: ec.europa.eu/life

The DOMOTIC project demonstrated the ability of the latest generation models of house automa-tion to streamline energy consumption in 2 educa-tional centres and a museum. The project carefully chose the buildings according to their characteris-tics (structure type, year of construction and the fact that they all consume large amounts of energy). In addition to the automation systems, the team also installed isolated home devices, action systems and integrated control of lighting and heating, ventila-tion and air-conditioning (HVAC).

The “KNX automation system” was installed in the the San Valero Foundation, a vocational training in-stitution, along with systems to control lighting and the fuel oil heating mechanism. The second educa-tional centre, the San Jorge University, also used the KNX system to automate the emergency lighting in its two buildings. This provided the university with information regarding the real-time consumption of virtually all its premises.

The museum installed two systems: a “Building Management System” (BMS) for consumption con-trol and management and; renewable energy pro-duction systems (solar thermal and biomass).

Overall, for the three pilot buildings, the adjust-ments led to an annual improvement rate of 63.9% in energy efficiency and use of renewable energies, emission reductions of 680 tonnes of CO2/year, an-nual savings of €162 000, and an average return on investment of 4 years.

DOMOTIC LIFE09 ENV/ES/000493

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Environment & Climate Action

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