EEIP Joins ELITHE Project: The Future Of Sustainable Ceramic Industry Decarbonisation

EEIP is excited to announce its involvement in eLITHE, a Horizon Europe project focused on advancing the decarbonisation of the ceramic industry. As part of this groundbreaking initiative, EEIP is taking the lead on Work Package 7, dedicated to the replication and scale-up of innovative solutions demonstrated during the project. Our role will focus on ensuring that the project’s results are not only impactful at the demonstration sites but also scalable and applicable across Europe and beyond.

The eLITHE project officially kicked off in Zaragoza, Spain, on 23-24 January 2024 at the Fundación CIRCE premises. This initial meeting brought together consortium members to discuss the project’s objectives and plan the roadmap for the next four years. Led by Fundación CIRCE, the project brings together a diverse consortium of industry leaders, research institutions, and technology experts committed to modernizing and decarbonizing the ceramic industry.

eLITHE, which stands for “Electrification of ceramic industries high temperature heating equipment,” aims to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of electrification in the ceramic industry, thereby contributing to a greener manufacturing sector. The project will unfold at three demonstration sites located in Spain, Greece, and Germany, showcasing the larger applicability of the solutions proposed.

The four-year initiative, scheduled to run until December 2027, kicked off in Zaragoza, Spain, on 23-24 January 2024 at the Fundación CIRCE premises.

Roberto Arévalo, Project Coordinator at CIRCE, stated: “2024 has begun with an electrifying partnership to modernise the ceramics industry, reduce CO2 emissions and advance toward 2050 climate neutrality. The eLITHE project will develop novel electric heating solutions to decarbonize the ceramics industry and improve its competitiveness through digitalisation, materials circularity and energy storage, as part of its mission to contribute to the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA).”

Consotium picture

The eLITHE consortium, coordinated by CIRCE, brings together 18 partners from 9 European countries, with experts in the ceramics and electrification sectors.

The project will develop solutions, such as microwave-assisted heating in Mytilineos (Greece), novel flexible hybrid H2 burners in IZF (Germany) and electric technologies in Torrecid (Spain). Its enabling technologies will be smart control through digital twins, novel sensors and materials, and high temperature energy storage.

The project will open its website in the next few months and establish a presence on social media platforms to engage with industry stakeholders and the broader public.