In the frame of the conference Nanoinnovation 2021 (Rome, 2021-2024), a workshop entitled “The energy hubs and districts in Italy: a showcase for nanotech” was co-organized by Gabriele Centi (University of Messina and member of the SUNERGY executive board).
The workshop aimed at discussing the needs and gaps, especially in terms of nanotechnology solutions, materials, and technologies, for creating energy hubs and districts, and their role in implementing the energy transition as well as for decarbonizing the chemical industry. Frédéric Chandezon, deputy coordinator of SUNERGY, was one of the invited speakers and he presented the SUNERGY initiative, and its vision based on the outline of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). He also discussed how the views of SUNERGY fit with the concept of energy hubs and districts with technologies that can be applied with a decentralized and circular approach. Chandezon also discussed the role of nanotechnology as a key enabler to develop and implement the SUNERGY technologies.
Several other speakers from academia, industry, and from consulting companies presented their views and strategies with some examples from energy hubs and districts.