FLEX-IN-BIO: Flexible, low-energy and renewable-Integrated production systems for resilient bio-based Industries.
Programme: Horizon Europe – HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11
Duration: 48 months, September 2026 – August 2030
Partners: Geoponiko Panepistimion Athinon (AUA, Greece, coordinator), Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Techonogikis (CERTH, Greece), Thermodraft ike (THD, Greece), Fundación CARTIF (España), Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant VZW (BBEPP, Belgium), Univertiteit Gent (UGENT, Belgium), VIB VZW (VIB, Belgium), Moses Productos S. L (MOSES, Spain), FCC Aqualia S.A. (AQUA, Spain), Avantium Chemicals BV (AVANT, Netherlands), Asociatia de Standardizare din Romania (ASRO, Romania) and Wirtschaft und Indrastruktur Gmbh & Co Planungs KG (WIP, Germany)
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The challenge
Bio-based industry needs to transform. It must move towards more efficient, decarbonised processes that stay flexible amid a growing variability in energy demand. In addition, volatility in energy availability and price calls for new solutions. For this reason, it is essential to integrate local renewables, waste heat recovery and smart control, without compromising the sector’s productivity or competitiveness.
Objective
Flex-In-Bio develops and demonstrates more efficient, flexible, low-carbon bio-based processes. As a result, the project adapts in real time to the availability, demand and price of energy. To achieve this, it combines process improvements, local renewable energy, waste heat recovery and energy storage. All of this is managed through smart control and digital tools. Specifically, the project expects to cut energy consumption by up to 34%, water consumption by 25%, and emissions by around 3,520 tCO2/year.
The project is structured around three complementary pillars. Firstly, it improves processes and equipment with heat pumps, eco-efficient dryers, waste heat recovery and energy storage. As a result, it reduces both energy and water consumption. Secondly, it develops a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence (DRPM). Thanks to this platform, energy consumption and production flexibility are optimised in real time. Finally, it demonstrates these solutions under real industrial conditions (TRL7) at three plants producing lactic acid, biofertilisers and bioplastics. Likewise, it includes plans for replicability, industrial scale-up and staff training.
The consortium brings extensive experience in decarbonising bio-based industries. Specifically, it combines 2 universities and 3 research and technology centres with a strong track record in R&D&I. Moreover, it includes 1 standardisation body and 6 industrial companies and SMEs, contributing sector expertise and industrialisation capacity. On the other hand, the project relies on 3 industrial demonstrators: one pilot scale-up plant and two industrial plants already in operation.
Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo de Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking y sus miembros.
Grant Agreement nº 101288697, FLEX-IN-BIO, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11
