TRC win EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator 2018

TRC win EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator 2018

TRC is one of the winning companies of the EIT Climate-KIC Accelerator 2018, the largest CleanTech accelerator in the European Union. The acceleration program of the Community of Knowledge and Innovation of the European Union specializing in Climate Change has selected the best national initiatives based on clean technologies this year.

During the presentation, the general director of EIT Climate-KIC Spain, José Luis Muñoz, along with the director of Entrepreneurship of EIT Climate-KIC Europe, Emilie Normann, and the Vice-Chancellor of Employment and Entrepreneurship of the UPV, José Millet, delivered of the prizes awarded with € 5,000 for each of the 15 selected startups that access phase I of the program, and € 30,000 for the 4 startups that move to phase 3 of the program.

During the fifth edition of the acceleration program companies selected in these phases, will receive, in addition to financial support, training, mentoring and access to investment forums with an economic valuation of more than € 400,000 to finance innovative projects that help mitigate the effects of global warming and decarbonizing the economy through innovation.

In the event, the General Director of EIT Climate-KIC Spain, shared with the audience the success of the EIT in the creation of the KICs, as well as the good work that Climate-KIC is doing for innovation and entrepreneurship in the action for the climate throughout Europe and in Spain, where last year was ranked by the FUNCAS report as the 5th best acceleration program. He also commented on the good experience of EIT Climate-KIC in Spain, and its successful expansion during the last two years in its transition to a national node.

First Compostites from recycled blade of EDP R

First Compostites from recycled blade of EDP R

These are the first results of the agreement of TRC and EDP Renewables in 2017 to develop viable and highly efficient alternatives for the recycling of decommissioned wind turbine blades.

EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR), a global leader in the renewable energy sector and one of the world’s largest wind energy producers, has revealed the first results of its agreement with Thermal Recycling of Composites (TRC), a spin-off of Spain’s National Research Council (CSIC), aimed at recycling wind turbine blades through the new R3FIBER system. After little more than six months since the agreement was signed, and thanks to the collaboration with CSIC and the Technology Centre of Catalonia (Eurecat), the program has already produced the first samples generated through this recycling process which, after undergoing additional steps to enhance quality, will provide a second useful life for wind assets.

This represents an important first step towards reusing turbine blades to create lightweight materials with robust mechanical properties that can be employed in a wide range of sectors, such as automotive manufacturing, railways, maritime transport, industry, leisure and sports. These raw materials can be used to manufacture panels, seats and consoles for use in rolling stock, street furniture, bicycles and boats, among many other uses. The production of these new reinforced materials represents a considerable environmental success story, both in terms of cutting CO2 emissions and reducing the volume of waste. Further research in the future may revolutionise the composite material market.

The R3FIBER technology, developed by TRC in collaboration with CSIC and the Technology Centre of Catalonia (Eurecat), hinges upon the complete reuse of materials without producing any waste. This thermochemical transformation converts resins into combustible gases and liquids, a process that produces reusable fibres (fibreglass and carbon fibre). There are therefore no limits to the reuse of composites nor the need to separate materials containing carbon fibre, as the technology can be applied to components with both fibreglass and carbon fibre. The resulting fibres (fibreglass and carbon fibre) are similar to the composites used to manufacture the original blades, a key factor that enables their subsequent reuse.

The R3FIBER technology allows total reuse of mass, energy and materials and is the only process capable of yielding high-quality fibres (without resins) that can be reused. Furthermore, the technology is sustainable, as it does not generate waste, and efficient, as it allows for energy to be recovered during the transformation process. Following production of these first fibres, the next steps will focus on maximum optimisation of their performance, before designing and manufacturing prototypes in conjunction with ELISAVA (Barcelona School of Design and Engineering), and other public and private bodies.

According to João Manso Neto, CEO of EDP Renewables, “this is a key step in our
project to develop sustainable energy solutions. Although waste from decommissioned blades is still an emerging issue, there is no doubt that this matter will gain traction going forward. At EDPR, we have already started to propose solutions.”

About EDP Renewables (EDPR)
EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR) is a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer. With a sound development pipeline, first class assets and market-leading operating capacity, EDPR has undergone exceptional development in recent years and is currently present in 12 markets (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK and the US). Energias de Portugal, S.A. (“EDP”), the principal shareholder of EDPR, is a global energy company and a leader in value creation, innovation and sustainability. EDP has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for ten consecutive years.
For further information, please visit www.edpr.com.

ARC subsidizes TRC

ARC subsidizes TRC

The purpose of the aid is the promotion of projects to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Catalonia, improving efficiency in the use of material resources and decoupling the global economic development of resource consumption.

The subsidy allows to optimize the R3FIBER technology and to carry out, along with the Technological Center of Catalonia (Eureca), prototypes and demonstrations of new products made from the recycled carbon fiber of a wind turbine blade.

TRC COLLABORATES WITH REFISA COMPOSITES STRUCTURES

TRC COLLABORATES WITH REFISA COMPOSITES STRUCTURES

TRC signs a collaboration contract with REFISA COMPOSITES STRUCTURES for the recycling of composites of the railway sector. REFISA is a leading manufacturing company with composite materials that uses the most advanced products and technology in the market. The company has a long experience related to the development of projects in the railway sector.

The objective of the collaboration is to recycle composites used in the railway industry for reuse and application in the same sector, applying the circular economy.

TRC in HORIZON 2020

TRC in HORIZON 2020

TRC enters the Phase I of the European Framework Program for Horizon 2020 financing of the European Commission. In this first phase, TRC will have the coaching service provided by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and financing for the development of the Business Plan, a fundamental element for presenting a solid and innovative project in Phase II of the Program.

SME Instrument is a subprogram of the 8th European Framework Program for the financing of R & D & I Horizon 2020, whose focus is exclusive for small and medium enterprises. The program consists of three phases:

Phase 1: Concept and evaluation of viability

The program finances the “Business Plan” or project feasibility study.

Phase 2: Demonstration and commercial replication

The program finances the activities of research, development, demonstration and commercial replication. These activities include the realization of prototypes, tests, design of innovative processes, performance verifications, among others.

Phase 3: Marketing

The European Union aims to facilitate access to private capital and facilitating environments, in order to establish links and access to risk financing.