The RISEnergy (standing for Research Infrastructure Services for Renewable Energy) project, led by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and counting with the participation of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and several of its member organisations, has kicked off. It aims to create an ecosystem to accelerate the development of innovations for the use of renewable energy sources and the commercialisation of their respective technologies as Europe powers towards reaching its net-zero emissions goals. Above all, access of researchers and companies to research infrastructures in European and non-European countries will be facilitated.

“RISEnergy will create a European ecosystem covering all areas of renewable energy technologies,” says Dr Olga Sumińska-Ebersoldt, co-coordinator of RISEnergy. “We want to push the development of promising technologies from the laboratory level to industrial maturity.” Joint research infrastructure projects have already been launched for specific technologies. Still, RISEnergy is the first project of this dimension in Europe that covers all areas of renewable energy technologies: Photovoltaics, Concentrated Solar Power, Hydrogen, Biofuels, Wind Energy, Ocean Energy, as well as Integrated Grids, Energy Storage, Materials Research, Information and Communication Technologies.

The RISEnergy consortium comprises 69 technology institutes, universities, and industry partners from 22 countries, with EERA at the core of this network. The partners contribute with their infrastructures and know-how or provide organisational support. Participation of organisations from the USA, Canada, and Japan ensures access to innovation outside of Europe.

Starting on March 1, 2024, and set to run until August 31, 2028, RISEnergy’s two-day kick-off event brought together more than 140 online and on-site participants in Brussels. The first day offered an overview of the project, followed by discussions on the most urgent challenges faced by the ten renewable energy technologies covered by RISEnergy, as well as presentations on the broad research infrastructure portfolio of the project, which gathers 84 research infrastructures from 19 European countries, the USA, Canada, and Japan.

On the second day, participants had the opportunity to exchange with the European Commission about the main expectations of the project. The RISEnergy work package leaders then outlined the actions to be carried out within the different work streams (work packages). Leading the activities that will be focused on building the energy innovation ecosystem and being actively involved in the dissemination, outreach, and engagement efforts, the EERA Secretariat was well represented at the meeting.

Who can apply to access the infrastructures that will be available during RISEnergy duration?

Within the framework of RISEnergy, 84 research infrastructures from 19 European countries, the USA, Canada, and Japan, will open their facilities to external researchers and company developers, who can apply for access. An expert committee will decide. If approved, RISEnergy will cover the costs of the research facility as well as travel and accommodation expenses. Most of the project budget will be used for this purpose.  The offer is specifically aimed at small and medium-sized companies. Uncomplicated access to major research infrastructures is expected to boost their innovations. “We offer cost-free use of laboratories. Researchers and experts from companies can travel, exchange ideas, and conduct experiments,” Sumińska-Ebersoldt says.

Further information on the project is available at the following link.  
The replay of the event or the slide pack of the presentations will be available here soon.

Stay tuned for the launch of the RISEnergy website and channels!

For more information on RISEnergy, contact Mónica de Juan, Project Manager (m.dejuan@eera-set.eu).