Longstanding commitment to a clean industry

“Successfully reducing our emissions while growing our economy.” “Decarbonising and industrialising our economy simultaneously.” And also: “We must and will stay on course to meet the goals set in the European Green Deal.” These are some of the key statements in the new political guidelines of the European Commission for the 2024-2029 period, which secured Ursula von der Leyen’s confidence in the European Parliament last Thursday. In this document, the German leader, beginning her second term, anticipates an ambitious Clean Industrial Deal, a grand pact for a clean industry. At Zabala Innovation, we have been committed to this path for many years, tirelessly working to drive sustainable innovation and industrial transformation.

According to von der Leyen’s vision, the European Commission must establish optimal conditions for businesses to achieve the set climate goals. This involves simplifying regulations, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring access to sustainable and affordable energy and raw materials. Thus, Brussels will propose a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and will present an Industrial Decarbonisation Acceleration Law aimed at channelling investments into energy-intensive sectors and promoting the development of clean technologies, streamlining planning and permitting processes.

Reducing energy bills for businesses and households will be achieved by improving the functioning of the energy market, according to the President. The EU’s dependence on Russian fossil gas will continue to decrease, while renewables already account for 50% of electricity generation. Therefore, investing in clean energy infrastructure and technologies like renewable hydrogen and CO2 capture is promised. Additionally, the European Commission will propose new trade partnerships and clean investments to secure global supplies.

These guidelines reinforce the goals of sustainable prosperity, competitiveness, and innovation outlined in the European Green Deal. Approved at the end of 2019, this agreement represents the EU’s roadmap towards efficient resource use, increased circularity in the economy, combating climate change, reversing biodiversity loss, and reducing pollution.

Zabala Innovation’s Commitment to the Clean Industrial Deal

Zabala Innovation demonstrates its long-standing commitment to the green transition echoed by the new Clean Industrial Deal. Since the launch of the ETP SmartGrids in 2006, our consultancy has been directly involved in the EU’s energy transition, especially by supporting experts in defining research priorities that effectively incorporate renewable energies.

For example, through participation in the European Innovation Fund, we support projects that provide low-carbon innovative solutions for various energy-intensive industrial processes, such as energy storage, advanced biofuels, wind and solar energy, renewable hydrogen and its derivatives, or carbon capture and storage technologies.

In the latest call for large-scale projects, whose results were announced last year, Zabala Innovation achieved a success rate of 45%, a figure 2.6 times the general rate. In the first Innovation Fund call in 2021, our consultancy successfully guided the Ecoplanta project to obtain €1.1 million in funding (the first success case in Spain).

Beyond this programme, Zabala Innovation has been deeply involved in the European Green Deal’s Industrial Plan, participating in projects aimed at increasing the EU’s capacity to produce carbon-neutral technologies and products. This includes investments in the deployment of clean technologies and supporting strategic European projects that promote them in the single market. Noteworthy in this regard is the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure call of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF AFIF) programme, closing on 24 September 2024.

Regarding renewable hydrogen projects, we have supported two of the seven projects funded in the first renewable hydrogen auction of the European Hydrogen Bank. The return for our clients has been €314 million, representing 44% of the call’s budget.

We are also experts in the Clean Hydrogen Partnership call, whose latest edition closed in April, achieving a 100% success rate with four proposals funded in the 2022 and 2023 calls.

Zabala Innovation has also supported projects enhancing the innovative value chain of renewable hydrogen, including the development of advanced technologies and the establishment of manufacturing lines. For instance, our consultancy supported three of the seven major Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in the Hy2Use wave approved in Spain, representing 26% of the funds.

Aligned with sustainability, which Zabala Innovation is firmly committed to, are energy storage projects focusing on developing innovative solutions contributing to grid stability and efficiency, and green mobility. In this regard, we have gained extensive experience in Horizon Europe battery calls, with success rates reaching 80%. Two of the projects we are involved in are SEATBELT and LIFE ReLiGHT.

Concerning renewable energies, Zabala Innovation has managed numerous projects in this field. Some of the most notable are: EU-Sysflex, a project aiming to improve the flexibility of the European electrical system to integrate a higher share of renewable energies; Romeo, focused on reducing the operation and maintenance costs of offshore wind farms; XFLEX Hydro, covering innovative solutions for flexible hydropower; and EUniversal, which develops universal solutions for integrating renewables into power grids.

In support of the circular bioeconomy, we can also mention our participation as a partner in two of the three projects presented in the Circular Biobased Economy Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) call held last year. In this call, one out of ten funded projects was supported by our consultancy.

Looking to the future

Under Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership, with the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission has just outlined an ambitious roadmap towards decarbonisation and simultaneously towards the reindustrialisation of the European economy. Zabala Innovation, with its extensive experience and dedication to sustainable innovation, positions itself as one of the key players in achieving these goals. Its successful participation in programmes like LIFE and many others, and its support for strategic projects in clean technologies, demonstrate its ability to significantly contribute to the green transition Europe needs.

Zabala Innovation’s involvement in various initiatives, from improving the renewable hydrogen value chain to developing advanced energy storage solutions, underscores the importance of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to achieving the EU’s climate and energy goals. In this context, Zabala Innovation’s ongoing commitment reinforces the confidence that collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to achieving a clean and sustainable industry in the long term.