Smart Integration of Waste and Renewable Energy for Sustainable Heat Upgrade in the Industry

SUSHEAT seeks to transform industrial heating processes by developing a new generation of efficient industrial heat upgrade systems powered by renewable energy sources and waste heat recovery. The project advances three groundbreaking technologies – an innovative high-temperature Stirling heat pump, bio-inspired Phase Change Material thermal energy storage, and a Control & Integration Twin system – validated up to TRL 5 in leading EU laboratories. By utilizing a helium-driven high-temperature Stirling heat pump, SUSHEAT efficiently upgrades heat to 150–250°C, unlocking new industrial opportunities for waste heat recovery systems and expanding their applicability across various sectors. Through innovation, industry collaboration and advanced self-assessment tools, SUSHEAT is driving industrial decarbonization and energy efficiency, aligning with the EU’s ambitious climate goals and contributing to a sustainable, low-carbon industrial future.

WIZ Research is leading Work Package 5: Digital Control Hub, Smart IoT Hardware and Data Analytics. We are developing a unified Digital Twin model to simulate and visualize the interoperation of key technologies, including the High-Temperature Heat Pump, Thermal Energy Storage, and Fresnel solar collectors. Our core contribution is the creation of an Energy Industrial Software Control Hub, integrating IoT-enabled hardware, multi-layer automation, and advanced AI algorithms for real-time data collection, analysis and decision-making. Additionally, we are establishing a comprehensive data repository with visualization tools to ensure seamless data management and interoperability. By combining AI-driven insights, robust control systems and cutting-edge integration tools, we empower industries to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy solutions, ensuring efficiency, sustainability and scalability.