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

Phot

o: L

IFE0

6 EN

V/L/

0001

21 -

Dup

ont

Ener

gain

/Haw

kes

Phot

o: L

IFE0

6 EN

V/IT

/000

266

Phot

o: L

IFE0

6 EN

V/S/

0005

17

Phot

o: L

IFE0

6 EN

V/D

/000

485

- M

ario

MAN

THEY

EFFERNERGY developed two new insula-tion products that improve the thermal perfor-mance of existing buildings:

• An “easy to install” thermal mass panel that can be used inside walls, floors and ceilings, including in existing buildings. This panel, called DuPont Energain, works by absorbing heat in the daytime and releasing it at night, thus evening out temperature fluctuations in buildings and reducing their energy con-sumption by 20-60%. For example, a 200 m2 building fitted with these thermal mass panels might save between 4 011 kWh and 6 101 kWh per year depending on its loca-tion in Europe. In independent tests using a house with two identical attics, the panelled attic was up to 7°C cooler in the summer, whilst during winter the total energy required to keep it at a constant temperature of 20°C was 8% less.

• An insulation system based on two reflective breathable membranes (DuPont Tyvek Ener-cor) that combines heat loss reduction and weather proofing. If fitted with this system, a house with 150 m2 of roof surface and 100 m2 of wall surface could achieve energy savings of 1 542 kWh/yr. This would result in annual economic savings of between €93 and €231.

.

BIOAGRO conceived an innovative method of producing high-quality pelletised fuel from grain, grain waste, seeds and grass. The project comprised three stages: developing and pro-ducing different pellet mixtures (Bioagropellets) with efficient combustion performances and low sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions rates; the design of an integrated furnace system that avoids ash melting and adapts easily to different pellets recipes; and the coupling of the burning system with drying and heating systems, enabling the use of the heat from the furnaces in drying op-erations and heating buildings.

The project also produced the following envi-ronmental benefits:

• 100% reduction of waste from an agricul-tural seed production company, which con-sequently led to a 100% reduction of meth-ane emissions by the decaying agricultural residues.

• The ashes produced were also reused as fer-tiliser in the form of biochar, thus helping to sequester CO2.

• A closed-loop energy system that provides a 100% fossil fuel free heating of buildings and seed drying activities.

If fully implemented, the method could reduce the discharge of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Sweden by 10% and in the EU by 2.5%.

MOVEABLE HEPP developed a hydro-electric power plant that works without hinder-ing the natural ecosystem functions of river habitats. The technology operates with move-able components that are able to work at dif-ferent heights and allow fish to swim freely - even through the turbine, since it operates at a low rotation speed.

Results from pilot plants constructed on exist-ing weirs in Gengenbach and Offenburg (Ger-many) showed savings of 16% in comparison with a conventional hydropower plant, plus 11% higher returns (electricity sales) as a re-sult of better efficiency. The project beneficiary, E-werk Mittelbaden Wasserkraft calculates that its technology could increase the ratio of ‘raw profit per investment sum’ by more than 40% (from 5.18% to 7.36%).

The system’s economic advantages are attrib-uted to high efficiency, the lack of a frequency converter, combining the turbine and generator on a single shaft, and the use of a permanent magnet for the stator, thereby saving power for electric magnetisation. It also avoids costs involved in compensatory measures for man-aging flood risks or the transfer of river bed matter.

SEQ-CURE demonstrated a system to use organic residues, such as manure and diges-tate, in the agricultural production of plant bi-omass as a source of renewable energy. The project set up demonstration energy farms in Emilia-Romagna to analyse the respective po-tential of the biogas, wood fibre and raw veg-etable oil chains for energy production. It as-sessed three biogas crops: triticale, maize and sorghum; poplar and hemp for the wood/fibre chain; and rapeseed for the raw vegetable oil chain. This integrated initiative consisted of the following actions:

• Development of demonstration bioenergy farms that cultivate energy crops with or-ganic residues;

• Management of biomass and conversion in energy;

• Use of ashes as fertiliser;

• Development of a method for the calculation of GHG emissions and carbon sequestration derived from farming practices.

The project showed very good results, espe-cially in the biogas energy production. This resulted in an increase of 160% in the aver-age yearly income of the farmers producing energy from their own biomass and 65% for those farmers purchasing biomass.

EnErgy EFFIcIEnt buILdIngs

bIomass rEnEwabLE EnErgIEs

PELLEts

EnvironmentVisit the LIFE website: www.ec.europa.eu/life