The European Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions (INCITE) was officially opened in Seville, Spain, on Friday 21 June. Attached to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), INCITE is designed to provide new momentum for the management of industrial emissions in the European Union. It arose from the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive, adopted last April, and contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal and to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
At the launch event, representatives from industry and the financial sector, experts, researchers and innovation managers, senior Commission officials and political decision-makers came together to discuss the priorities of this new centre.
INCITE aims to stand out for its forward-looking approach to contributing to the development of environmental standards, going beyond mere regulation to stimulate innovation and accelerate the adoption of emerging green technologies.
Steel and cement. Two major sectors where INCITE will concentrate its initial efforts are the steel and cement industries, which are responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions. Global demand for iron and steel is set to increase as a result of economic growth and urbanisation, necessitating innovations such as hydrogen-based production. In Sweden, the first hydrogen-powered iron production plant is due to open in 2026.
Similarly, the cement sector, which is responsible for 7 to 8% of annual global CO2 emissions, must develop new production techniques to achieve a carbon-neutral future. Innovations such as the electrification of precalcinators, low-temperature furnaces and new chemical compositions of binder materials are currently being developed.
A new approach to environmental regulation. During the debate entitled ‘Governance and legislative aspects’, several experts discussed the centre’s role in the creation of regulations.
Benoit Zerger, a team leader for industrial emissions and safety at the European Commission’s DG Environment, opened the discussion by highlighting that INCITE’s main objective is to ensure that the revision of environmental standards not only supports, but also accelerates, the industrial transformation towards a circular and ‘zero-carbon’ economy.
Barbara Freund, head of division for air pollution control relating to industrial installations at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, stressed the need for regulations to take account of emerging technologies that are not yet fully developed. In addition, she brought up the difficulty of regulating technologies for which performance data may be limited because they are emerging, noting that INCITE’s role is to provide rigorous technical assessments to guide policy-makers.
Eva Blixt, a representative of the Expert Group on the exchange of information on Best Available Techniques related to industrial emissions (IED Article 13 Forum), discussed the need for a clear methodology for assessing new techniques.
She stressed the importance of including various stakeholders, including technology suppliers and research institutes, in the discussions to ensure a full and impartial assessment. In her view, the collection of reliable data and the definition of performance criteria are essential if the INCITE conclusions are to be useful and applicable.
Finally, Christian Schaible, Head of Zero Pollution Industry at the NGO European Environmental Bureau (EEB), relayed the optimism of non-governmental organisations about the potential of INCITE to integrate climate and environmental concerns into industrial standards.
He talked about long-term public benefits and encouraging innovative solutions that respond effectively to environmental challenges.
Mr Schaible also mentioned the importance of transparency and open communication in the assessment process to ensure the rapid and effective implementation of green technologies.
Collaborative working. In addition to technical assessments, INCITE will provide a forum for the industrial transformation community. Sector workshops will be organised to promote a collaborative culture and exchange ideas and best practice.
This will create a space for small and large businesses to access reliable and transparent information on transformative technologies relevant to their respective sectors.
The INCITE website: https://aeur.eu/f/cs6 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)