National Research Council (CNR)

The National Research Council (CNR) is the largest public research institution in Italy, the only one under the Research Ministry performing multidisciplinary activities. >>

Construction Technologies Institute​ – CNR ITC

Promotion of the enhancement of the built environment, supporting the development of construction technologies, sustainable building, performance assessment and evaluation of the quality of products, components and construction systems. >>

 

Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Energy Technologies  – CNR ICMATE

Focus on advanced manufacturing, energy efficiency and sustainability, and nanomedicine. Main topics are non-conventional synthesis of innovative compounds and nanosystems, functional surfaces, and inorganic materials development. >>

Institute of atmospheric sciences and climate – CNR ISAC

Promotion and development of an integrated scientific understanding of the atmosphere, the ocean and their processes, through a multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, ISAC involved in the study of the impact of natural and anthropogenic events on human environment, health and cultural heritage. >>

Role in the project

CNR will be in charge of Project Coordination and will participate to the project with three different Institutes (ITC, ISAC and ICMATE). ITC will contribute to the TES design and its exploitation, thanks to its large experience in HVAC&R applications and fluids properties, together with ISAC, expert in thermal comfort and corrosion, and ICMATE, with its vast experience in PCMs and innovative materials. The Project Coordinator (CO) has been appointed to act as the central point of contact and represents the consortium in front of the European Commission (Laura Fedele, CNR ITC).

beWarrant (BEWG) is a branch of the Italian company Warrant Hub SpA, a privately held consultancy services company that provides full-spectrum consulting in business finance. Warrant Hub has been active since 1995, growing over the years to become a leader in its sector today. WH Business Units work in synergy with its Innovation Lab to give their clients the best support tools for the success of their business initiatives and to assist them in the preparation and management of strategic projects: business projects, research projects, training and technology transfer activities, under National and International support frameworks.
The European Funding Division (EFD) team provides consultancy, training and support on European Funding opportunities, and in the preparation, negotiation and management of European Proposals, particularly on H2020 calls. EFD offers also support for communication and dissemination activities, and periodically participates into and organizes sectional seminars and networking events with/for industrial associations, SMEs, policy makers, etc. thus having the opportunity to disseminate the project results to relevant audiences. >>

Role in the project

BEWH will be in charge of ECHO project management; BEWH will carry out the overall administrative and financial management and reporting of the project (Task 1.2 leader). As WP8 Leader, BEWH will develop ECHO dissemination and exploitation Plan including communication activities.

Warrant Hub S.p.A. – Tinexta Group is a privately held consultancy services company that provides full spectrum consulting in business finance. Warrant Hub has been active since 1995, growing over the years to become a leader in its sector today. WH Business Units work in synergy with its Innovation Lab to give their clients the best support tools for the success of their business initiatives and to assist them in the preparation and management of strategic projects: business projects, research projects, training and technology transfer activities, under National and International support frameworks.
The European Funding Development (EFD) team will be involved in SOMIRO project. It’s aim is to provide consultancy, training and support on European Funding opportunities, and in the preparation, negotiation and management of European Proposals, particularly on H2020 calls. EFD offers also support for communication and dissemination activities, and periodically participates into and organizes sectional seminars and networking events with/for industrial associations, SMEs, policy makers, etc. thus having the opportunity to disseminate the project results to relevant audiences. >>

Role in the project

The ECHO project will benefit the involvement of WH in the Project Management activities (task 1.2). WH will be also involved in tasks 8.1, 8.4 together with BEWARRANT, to perform dissemination, exploitation and communication activities starting from the elaboration of the dissemination and exploitation plan.

Founded in 1391 It is one of the oldest Universities in Italy. In the last decade of the 20th century, three new Faculties were established, Architecture, Engineering and Humanities (as a transformation of the Faculty of Education), which were later followed by the Faculty of Economics in 1996.

With 68 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses and more than 25,000 students, the University of Ferrara now has thirteen Departments and the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, located in prestigious buildings and modern premises immersed in the urban environment, forming a true university campus characterised by its distinctive identity. >>

Role in the project

UFE will be devoted to the complete design and development of the system, thanks to its vast knowledge in HVAC systems, materials properties and PCMs. Moreover, it will be involved in the corrosion tests and in the final optimization design of TES solutions in WP3.

CFR is a private non-profit organisation originally founded by a number of local organisations in the Ferrara area (Province, City Council, Hospitals, SME and UFE) to develop and manage research projects on several themes. There is a long and strong connection between UFE and CFR both for research and training from a practical viewpoint; the CFR premises are located on the Technology Campus of the University. In the course of its history the CFR has managed over 4100 research contracts also through the partnership with other research centres and public and private institutes. CFR and UFE have been excellently performing activities in academic and research fields. Main activities include participation and coordination of research projects funded by both public and private national and international organisations, such as the European Commission. >>

Role in the project

Within ECHO project CFR will mainly take part in WP3 – Heat/cold storage material selection and storage system design and in WP4 – System design and lab scale prototyping. In WP3, CFR will contribute to the task deputed to the optimisation of the heat exchanger, taking into account also corrosion issues as studied and checked by UFE. In WP4, CFR will carry out activities regarding the building of the lab-scale ECHO prototype, its installation in an existing UFE mock up, testing and preliminary automation control, according to all specifications of the WP4 leader (UFE) and other partners taking part to those work packages.

Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) is a technical university that plays an important role in education, research, technology,
innovation and socioeconomic development in the Valencia Region. UPV is the Spain’s only technological university to be listed
within the two major global rankingsassessing higher education quality, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Academic Ranking of
World Universities (ARWU) and the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking. Founded in 1971, it comprises nearly 30,000 students,
over 2,500 academics and researchers,and 17 university research centres of excellence driven to solve the challenges of the
European citizens. UPV is among the Spanish universities with the highest revenue from competitive research (R&D contracts,
consulting and service delivery, spin-off) and a national leader in patent exploitation. UPV has participated in 129 FP7 actions and
led 20 of them. In H2020, UPV is currently participating in more than 100 signed actions and leading 14 of them (November 2018),
being also a partner in several major partnering initiatives (JTIs, PPPs, KICs…). >>

Role in the project

UPV will be in charge of the analysis of the state of the art of TES in the context of thermo/electric sector coupling across the EU, of the ECHO TES concept and approach and the ECHO TSS concept design and Transaction System Implementation (WP2 Leader).

The Institute Mihailo Pupin is a leading Serbian R&D institution in information and communication technologies, the largest and the oldest  in the whole Southeastern Europe. At IMP projects of critical national importance have been conducted, combining systems engineering and information technology to develop innovative solutions in the area of automation and control, telecommunications and computer networks, knowledge and content  technologies  and applications, e-government, e-business, e-learning, etc. >>

Role in the project

IMP will deal with Numerical model implementation of the TES system. Within WP5 activities IMP will be in charge of the Control system hardware unit design and manufacturing; Data-driven control algorithm featuring reinforcement learning; Control system deployment, calibration and commissioning (WP5 Leader).

TECNALIA is the largest center of applied research and technological development in Spain, a benchmark in Europe and a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. We collaborate with companies and institutions to improve their competitiveness, people’s quality of life and achieve sustainable growth. We do it thanks to people who are passionate about technology and committed to building a better society. >>

Role in the project

TEC will be responsible for ECHO TSS spatial analysis, maximizing the impact of ECHO TES system implementation (spatial implementation drivers of ECHOTSS concept within a couple of realistic urban case studies like energy communities and/or positive energy districts, by means of Big Data and GIS based spatial information systems)

Sanhua is a leading HVAC&R manufacturer of controls and components with a global footprint and 30 years of experience. Our co-operation with the largest companies in the Automotive, Appliance and HVAC&R industry makes Sanhua a leading worldwide OEM supplier. >>

Role in the project

Sanhua is a leading HVAC&R manufacturer of controls and components, as well as of heat exchangers. Within WP3 activities SAN will deal with the optimization of the heat exchangers in the TCM reactor, through their coupling to a TCM reactor, maximizing the heat transfer. SAN will provide heat exchangers for the lab prototype and demo cases.

Istanbul Technical University, which is approaching its 250th anniversary, is one of the oldest technical universities in the world and was established with the name of “Mühendishane-i Bahr-i Hümayun” by Sultan Mustafa the Third. ITU, the first technical university in Turkey, is identified with its engineering and architectural education. >>

Role in the project

ITU has large experience in PCMs and their exploitation both for storage and insulation materials. Within WP3 activities ITU will deal with search for ice-based PCMs (eutectics) and for insulation with PCMs.

The University of Padova was established in 1222, after a group of students and teachers decided to come here from Bologna. They set up a free body of scholars, who were grouped according to their place of origin into nationes, in which students approved statutes, elected the rettore (rector, or chancellor) and chose their teachers, who were paid with money the students collected. Defending freedom of thought in study and teaching became a distinctive feature which today lives on in the University motto: Universa Universis Patavina Libertas. >>

Role in the project

UPD has large expertise in HVAC&R systems and energy efficiency. Within WP4 activities UPD will deal with TESsystem design and integration in conventional HVAC plant.

Green Energy Solutions Consultant Limited (GREENCO) is a Romanian society created the 22/07/2019. The main sector activities are management, consultancy and engineering in the field of energy efficiency of the buildings, using in particular renewable energy sources. Its mother company is R.E.D. Srl with similar activities in Italy. The shareholders of R.E.D. Srl are also active shareholders of GREENCO. They have been involved in several European research projects developing the use of renewable energy (geothermal, solar, PV) in civil and historical buildings, energy efficiency solutions and monitoring.

Role in the project

GREENCO will be responsible for the Exploitation of results, market planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (WP7 Leader). Within WP8 activities GREENCO will organize the awareness raising campaign for the case study in Belgium in Putte.

HiRef S.p.A. was born on September 11, 2001, the day of the collapse of the Twin Towers. The courage of the Galletti family and the determination of Mauro Mantovan gave life to a new company in the heart of the industrial district of cold. >>

Role in the project

HIREF is a leading company in the production of units for HVAC&R applications. Within WP4 activities HRF will deal with heat pump tuning and automation, developing dedicated HP prototypes for the ECHO system to be implemented in the lab prototype and demo cases.

The European Heat Pump Association is an organisation based in Brussels that has more than 170 members from all around Europe among HP and component manufacturers, National Associations, RTOs, Test centres and Consultancies. EHPA promotes and assists the development of HP technology in the European market and aims at putting HPs at the centre of the energy system by communicating their benefits, and being a reference point to all relevant stakeholders. >>

Role in the project

EHPA, European Heat Pump Association, can utilise networking, multiplication and external expertise via the BRIDGE initiative, can provide External Expert Panel coordination and involvement into international platforms, other initiatives, projects and programmes.

With more than 20 years of experience in the polyurethane industry, Ideakim Global© offers innovative solutions. The company successfully responds to its partners’ needs with a wide range of raw material portfolios from turkey to the world.

In addition to the raw material business, Ideakim Global is also an essential player in the polyurethane industry with its innovative PU system products. The company primarily offers innovative and sustainable solutions to its partners in the footwear, insulation, construction, defence, furniture, and decoration industries. The headquarter is located in Istanbul. The connection point of the middle east, Asia, and Europe. The company’s investments continue increasingly within the scope of its growth strategies.

Role in the project

IDG is a company which is supplying Polyurethane Raw Materials and providing sustainable chemical products, as PCMs. IDG will be involved in place of IDK in WP3, WP4, WP6 for the study, development and supply of eutectics PCMs and insulation PCMs-based. IDG will also work in WP1, WP2, WP7 and WP8. IDG will provide PU Foam and eutectics PCMs and insulation PCMs-based for the lab prototype and demo cases.

Software development company from Valencia (Spain).

SITE, our main product , is a software platform that combines AI, Big Data and DTL computing techniques for the quantification and analysis of the carbon footprint of different agents and processes and the actions for its reduction.

Role in the project

GT will design and implement an ICT platform, based on agent technologies and cloud solutions, to enable coordination of individual prosumers, offering flexibility through thermal and electricity storages as well as dispatchable energy demand, and their interaction within local flexibility markets via ECHOTSS market tool.

Enercoop Group is a renewable energy community located in Crevillent owned by 11,000 members. This electric cooperative was founded in 1925 and has presence in practically the entire value chain of the electricity sector: production of 100% renewable energy, distribution to the municipality of Crevillent (Spain), electricity supplier within and outside the municipality, representative agent in the electricity market for renewable production facilities, group of energy purchases for other electricity supplier companies and provision of other energy services (renewable energy installation, energy efficiency studies, engineering consultancy). Enercoop is currently the largest electric cooperative with its own electric grid in Spain. The cooperative is governed by the principle of “one member one vote”, so that all members have the same decision-making capacity. >>

Role in the project

Within WP2 activities ENER, as DSO, will provide essential information about the household demand behaviour, market bidding characteristics, technical components, regulatory conditions and any other critical data to evaluate the real possibilities for implementing demand flexibility policies in its grid. ENER will also support the analysis and implementation of ECHOTSS and the development of innovative business models thanks to the medium-to-long term penetration of TES solutions on the market.

The University of Nottingham was founded on the vision and philanthropic spirit of Jesse Boot who, in 1928, donated the land that is now University Park. The vision of a university devoted to discovery, enterprise and the advancement of the human condition, combined with his lifelong commitment to improving health and wellbeing, remains intrinsic to the culture of the University today and will continue to underpin our future purpose. >>

Role in the project

UON will be in charge of the selection, fabrication and characterisation of TCMs, and the design, modelling and laboratory testing of TCM reactor, for its large expertise in storage systems based on TCMs. WP3 leader.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) are ideal products for thermal management solutions. This is because they store and release thermal energy during the process of melting & freezing (changing from one phase to another). When such a material freezes, it releases large amounts of energy in the form of latent heat of fusion, or energy of crystallisation. Conversely, when the material is melted, an equal amount of energy is absorbed from the immediate environment as it changes from solid to liquid. >>

Role in the project

PCM Products is a company providing several chemical materials, as PCMs or TCMs. PCM will be involved in WP3, WP4, WP6 for the study, development and supply of PCMs for storage and TCMs production in large scale, providing TCMs and PCMs for the lab prototype and demo cases.