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CLEAN ENERGY

ENEA contributes to minimising energy-produced emissions with a view to improving energy technologies – especially renewable energy - by applying innovation to CO2 capture and confinement.

Actually these research fields are of utmost importance. Indeed, based on the prevalent assessments the availability of energy-efficient technologies could be reached in times useful for facing the huge growth of energy demand from Asian countries where large coal reservoirs are available.

ENEA is particularly dedicated to developing the following STRATEGIC PROJECTS:

  • Distributed Energy
    Objectives: To contribute to distributed generation penetration into the national electricity system by exploiting renewable energy sources and advanced technologies for energy production.
  • Clean Coal/Zero Emission
    Objectives: To improve energy efficiency of coal-powered plants and to develop innovation technologies for CO2 capture.
  • Biofuels
    Objectives: To carry out research, testing, development and fostering of innovation processes and technologies for the production of biofuels with a view to substituting similar fossil-based products.
  • Solar Thermodynamic Energy
    Objectives: To set up pilot plants – where high-temperature energy is produced by means of concentrating solar power systems – for the production of electric power, seawater desalination, and heat and cold generation for civil and industrial uses.

as well as the following LINES OF ACTIVITIES:

  • New Photovoltaic Technologies
    Objectives: Optimisation of the industrial manufacturing processes of crystalline-silicon devices; development of thin-film silicon devices on low-cost substrates for building integrated flat-plate modules; development of hybrid photovoltaics generating thermal and electrical energy simultaneously at different temperatures.
  • New Biomass Technologies
    Objectives: Introduction of innovative and more efficient technologies in the national system for producing thermal and electrical energy; production of second-generation biofuels (ethanol and sundiesel).
  • New Solar Thermal Technologies
    Objectives: R&D activities related to space conditioning technologies using heat generated by solar collectors, with special attention to drying cycles.
  • Energy Efficiency
    Objectives: R&D activities contributing to the widespread energy saving in the civil and industrial sectors; support to national energy-saving and demand-control policies; development of methodologies and tools applicable to enterprises and districts; support to the Italian Ministry for Economic Development as to the monitoring, support and diffusion of incentives; training and dissemination activities.
  • Mobility and Transport
    Objectives: Improvement of sustainable local urban and metropolitan mobility related to both passenger transport and logistics of goods distribution; development and testing of new technologies for hybrid vehicles, which are highly fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.
  • Transport Materials
    Objectives: Study and development of metal, ceramic and polymer materials much more resilient to higher temperatures and weight-saving allowing for lighter components to be produced.
  • Advanced Energetics
    Objectives: Contribution to the enhancement of the national energy sector in the short, medium and long term in order to limit polluting and greenhouse gas emissions by focusing on the development of a mix of technologies aimed at higher system efficiency, energy source diversification and opportunity fuel exploitation.