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The INDHEAP project reaches a critical milestone, demonstrating how hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic systems can decarbonise industrial heat with up to 40 % cost savings.
Decarbonising industrial heat remains a major challenge in Europe’s energy transition, particularly for low‑ and medium‑temperature processes still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The EU-funded INDHEAP(opens in new window) project was launched in 2024 to address this issue, with a focus on developing integrated solar thermal and photovoltaic solutions for industrial heat and power. Two years into the project, it has shown that combining energy efficiency, waste heat recovery and hybrid solar technologies is not only technically feasible but economically viable, and it can substantially improve both energy use and emissions in industrial environments.
INDHEAP’s progress is underpinned by rigorous analysis and site-specific engineering. The consortium has established validated thermal profiles for its primary demo site in Valdemoro, Spain, and replication sites in Cyprus and Portugal, providing the basis for techno-economic assessments that highlight the potential for full industrial decarbonisation by 2050. Results show that targeted energy efficiency measures, such as waste heat recovery, can reduce heat demand by up to 20 %, while integrating solar technologies and electric heating can lower overall energy costs by up to 40 %. Building on this foundation, INDHEAP has developed a comprehensive integration concept for its Valdemoro site. It combines solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, a novel electric thermal energy storage (e-TES) unit and existing infrastructure into a flexible, cohesive system. Parallel concepts are being developed for its replication sites, underscoring the need to adapt solutions to local industrial contexts. INDHEAP is making steady progress towards the deployment of its demonstrator at the industrial site of Spanish project partner TotalEnergies. Site preparation is complete and construction works have begun, with detailed engineering being finalised for all major components, from solar systems and storage to control and monitoring infrastructure. “The project is now entering its most critical phase, with the implementation of the demonstrator in a restricted industrial environment, with the aim of starting testing in early 2027,” reports Valery Vuillerme of INDHEAP coordinator French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission in a press release(opens in new window).
Behind the scenes, INDHEAP is refining the technologies that will make these systems scalable. The team has finalised the design of the e-TES system, and it has identified refined rapeseed oil as a promising heat transfer and thermal storage medium. Improved solar thermal collectors are also being tested for higher temperature operations and advanced control strategies are being validated to ensure safe, efficient and cost-effective performance. Commitment to openness, knowledge sharing and the wide dissemination of research outcomes is central to the project’s strategy. INDHEAP has therefore launched a dedicated Zenodo Community(opens in new window), offering a single access point to scientific publications, deliverables and technical insights for researchers, industry stakeholders and policymakers. As INDHEAP (Optimal Solar Systems for Industrial Heat and Power) moves towards validation in real industrial conditions, it offers a tested, flexible blueprint for industries seeking to navigate the complex path toward net-zero emissions. For more information, please see: INDHEAP project website(opens in new window)
4 May 2026
Last update: 23 October 2026
Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/467928-turning-hybrid-solar-concepts-into-industrial-reality
European Union, 2026
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