SOLHEATAIR project: an integrated renewable solution for the production, storage and recovery of hot air

R&D at the service of energy transition. The John Cockerill Solar team is participating in the SOLHEATAIR project. It aims to develop a solution for the production, storage and recovery of hot air produced by renewable energy sources, to be used in industrial processes (such as lime and steel production), electricity and heat networks, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Supported by the Walloon Government as part of a MecaTech pole call for projects, the SOLHEATAIR project is lead by John Cockerill and involving a whole ecosystem of companies and research centers.

Reducing CO2 emissions is the challenge of this century. The industry and transport sectors emit more than 30 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. In response to this observation, John Cockerill, led several developments to present the most suitable solutions to decarbonize these sectors.

An integrated renewable solution to decarbonise industry

The SOLHEATAIR project aims to develop a solution for the production, storage and recovery of hot air produced by renewable energy sources, to be used in industrial processes (such as lime and steel production), electricity and heat networks, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and moving towards carbon neutrality. This project will receive funding from the Walloon Government as part of the MecaTech Cluster’s Call for Projects 34.

This project is also in line with Belgium’s ambition to play a leading role in the development of renewable energies as well as IRENA’s 2050 ambitions. Indeed, the renewable sector holds enormous potential in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and decarbonizing industrial processes, but also in terms of creating jobs and value, if it meets a number of economic, industrial and technological challenges.

An international project

Behind his own resources, John Cockerill leads a whole ecosystem of PME’s and Walloon research centers active in the field and develops partnerships on a national and international scale. The latest example is the SOLHEATAIR project, which is a collaboration between John Cockerill Renewables, Prayon, MASEN, INSMA, UMONS and B-Sens.