Cleantech Solutions for 2040

As a climate innovation think tank working to close remaining innovation gaps, Future Cleantech Architects (FCA) sees the following cleantech solutions as essential for achieving the EU’s 2040 climate target. The list was developed with input from a wide range of partners advocating for a bold strategy to reinforce Europe’s global leadership in cleantech and build a competitive net-zero economy. These cleantech solutions align with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII), which sets an indicative target of 5% of new installed capacity by 2030 to be dedicated to innovative renewables, such as advanced geothermal, and with broader decarbonization goals. 

The cleantech solutions listed here are those that would work to both boost Europe’s competitiveness and industrial decarbonization.  

1. Next Generation Clean Energy 

From renewable power generation to advanced storage, the energy sector underpins cleantech transformation. Key cleantech options to achieve the 2040 target and augment Europe’s energy security include: 

• – Scale offshore and onshore wind, airborne wind, ocean energy (wave and tidal), solar PV, advanced nuclear, hydropower and advanced geothermal. 

• – Unlock the potential of concentrated solar power and sustainable biomethane. 

• – Prioritize energy flexibility tools storage innovations and deployment like long duration energy storage (including seasonal), pumped hydro, sodium-ion, and flow batteries, advanced compressed air, liquid air, liquid CO2, industrial heat recycling, and storage technologies (including thermal energy storage). These flexibility tools offer effective solutions to address key challenges associated with the increased integration of variable renewables like solar PV and wind. 

• – Reuse high-temperature industrial waste heat using advanced recovery systems and advancing industrial heat pumps.
  

2. Futureproof Power Grids  

To support Europe’s clean energy future, power grids must be modernized and become smarter and more resilient. Key innovations can include: 

• – Integrate digital tools and innovative technologies such as real-time monitoring, dynamic line rating to optimize grid performance and enhance operability. 

• – Deploy advanced conductors for higher efficiency and lower-loss materials and solid-state transformers to modernize grid infrastructure. 

• – Implement digital twins for enhanced planning, advanced power flow control systems, and grid inertia measurement to improve grid flexibility and resilience. 

• – Support the integration of energy storage, including thermal energy storage, into the energy system. Energy storage should be recognized as a transmission asset to stabilize supply-demand mismatches and improve the energy system’s reliability. 

3. Clean Aviation  

Decarbonizing aviation remains one of the toughest challenges, with a sector’s reliance on liquid fuels and continuous growth in demand. Solutions to explore include: 

• – Focus on contrails mitigation and the deployment of AI weather monitoring systems to address non-CO2 effects. 

• – Redirecting biofuels from road transport to heavy transport such as aviation since electrification is the preferred and most efficient pathway for decarbonization of road transport. 

• – Advance innovative battery technology research for short-haul (regional) electric aviation.  

• – Expanding Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) production, both biofuel and power-to-liquid (PtL), while ensuring resource-based allocation directs clean electricity first to areas with the highest carbon abatement potential, such as grid decarbonization and road transport electrification. 

• – Support research to advance hybrid aircraft designs. 

• – Research hydrogen-based solutions for aviation.

4. Mobility for the future 

Electrification and efficiency will reshape transport systems. Technologies like cargo electric bicycles for urban delivery, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) optimization, and mobility solutions for heavy transport where hydrogen may play a role as a feedstock or fuel, where electrification is not possible, were highlighted.  

5. Transformed Built Environment  

The construction sector must adopt sustainable practices and materials: 

• – Enhance structural efficiency to reduce material use, including with AI-driven structural optimization, and improve energy performance in buildings. 
• – Shift toward clean cement and concrete technologies, such as non-clinker-based types of cement and AI-optimized mixing processes. 
• – Develop green steel, electrowinning. 
• – Alongside these innovations, deploy domestic heat pumps and demand response optimization software to improve energy efficiency. 
• – Support innovation in carbon capture technologies, and carbon dioxide removal technologies, alongside geological storage solutions for non-regrets sectors. 

 6. Advanced Circular Solutions for Critical Minerals  

The transition to clean energy relies on critical minerals, but Europe faces challenges in sustainable extraction, processing and recycling. Advancements in direct lithium extraction, efficient recycling and separation, and bioleaching, alongside innovation in permanent magnet manufacturing, tailings management as well as scaling chemical recycling technologies. 

7. Agri-food Systems 2.0  

Transforming the global food system is crucial for reducing emissions. Cleantech innovations include: 

• – Cellular agriculture to produce meat and dairy alternatives. 
• – Fermentation-enabled proteins and plant-based proteins to reduce the environmental footprint of food production while meeting the needs of a growing population. 

Conclusion 

The upcoming EU’s Clean Industrial Deal must serve as the catalyst for cleantech innovation, development, deployment, and manufacturing, focusing on the integration of cleantech into industrial processes. By combining public and private funding, the Deal can foster innovation through dedicated R&D programs, scale up pilot projects into full-scale industrial applications, create an enabling regulatory environment that promotes cleantech adoption, ensure equitable access to technologies across Member States, and build a business for innovative clean industries. 

By integrating the above cleantech solutions, the Clean Industrial Deal can help the EU achieve its climate targets, improve industrial competitiveness, increase energy security – and establish itself as a leader in the global cleantech transformation.