SustainLoop

Empowering local innovation, strengthening regional energy transition, and fostering sustainable growth

TRINEFLEX PROJECT

Mission and expected impact

Mission

TRINEFLEX’s mission is to drive the evolution of Resource and Energy Intensive process Industries by accelerating their digital and green transition towards net-zero by 2050. To achieve this, it develops an integrated transformation toolkit that embeds energy flexibility into industrial processes. By maximizing energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable sources and alternative feedstocks, leveraging carbon capture and storage, and promoting distributed energy storage, TRINEFLEX enhances industrial resilience and sustainability. Built on an 'as-a-service' model, the toolkit delivers advanced digital solutions and disruptive technologies to optimize plant operations and facilitate a seamless transition to a flexible and sustainable operation.

Impact

Through its toolkit TRINEFLEX will strengthen industrial resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness while engaging citizens and promoting inclusive, safer workplaces. By 2030, TRINEFLEX is set to drive significant scientific, societal, and economic impacts by accelerating the digital and green transformation of industrial processes. It will generate valuable interdisciplinary knowledge, advancing digital services while fostering AI-driven innovation and open-access research. Societally, it will support the transition to climate-neutral industrial value chains by enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainable resource use and reducing emissions. Economically, it will improve industrial productivity, create new job opportunities, and enable innovative business models that foster industrial symbiosis and the active involvement of local actors.

A HUMAN-CENTRIC ADAPTATION STRATEGY

Local context in sustainable energy flexibility pathways

In parallel with the enabling technologies and transformative actions targeting the core of the industrial processes, TRINEFLEX puts strong emphasis on the human dimension. By introducing a comprehensive Human-centric Adaptation Strategy it seeks to include energy stakeholders from local communities and regional ecosystems, empowering civil society and other actors to be active participants in the twin transition of process industries. In pursuit if this human-centric approach TRINEFLEX, prioritizes several important factors:

Inclusiveness and Engagement

Engaging stakeholders fosters trust, transparency, and collaboration, ensuring that the transition is aligned with local needs and regional priorities while helps to identify and mitigate potential negative impacts, such as job losses or environmental degradation.

Empowerment for Sustainable Growth

Empowering local stakeholders is crucial for ensuring that they have the knowledge necessary to adapt to the changing industry landscape as well as support innovative business models and adapt to changing market conditions.

Leveraging Local Resources

Embracing energy flexibility in the process industry provides an opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by leveraging local energy resources alternative fuels and feedstocks, such as low-cost solid biomass.

Industrial Urban Symbiosis

Accelerating the adoption of Industrial Urban Symbiosis can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient industrial sector by reducing waste generation, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering collaboration among industries and communities.

PILOTS & REGIONS

Five process industries across Europe

TRINEFLEX aims to implement its solutions and demonstrate its potential for increased energy flexibility and sustainable operation in five process industries that span three European countries and four sectors:

Glass sector

Supported by Verallia Group (VERALLIA) in Italy