Industrial transition
In these times of momentous change, industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Emissions from fuel combustion and industrial processes account for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, population and economic growth continue to drive demand for products.
The industrial sector has a crucial role to play in the green transition, best described today as a race to a carbon-free future. All industrial players will have to adopt a zero-carbon strategy and embrace new technologies to secure energy supplies and strengthen competitiveness.
Efficiency from a holistic perspective
Innovation goes beyond technology and engineering as it is also a matter of broadening one’s perspective. A holistic view encourages industrial symbiosis, whereby multiple stakeholders align their needs to one another. The introduction of new business models is leading to the emergence of modern solutions for a circular economy, such as sustainable applications in waste treatment, recycling, Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), energy exchange and water management.
Energy solutions for sustainable and profitable production
Overall, the industrial sector accounts for 30% of energy consumption and 25% of CO2 emissions. This, and the fact that there is a finite supply of fossil fuels, means that energy efficiency is a top priority. With the Net Zero Industry Act, the EU is pulling out all the stops in order to achieve clean energy. Innovation, in combination with logical, tried and trusted measures, is being used to create flexible and sustainable energy solutions, such as electrification from renewable energy, e-fuels, Power-to-X applications, and storage via battery parks (BESS).
Water management: an indispensable link in the chain of transition
Water is also key to making industry more sustainable. Smarter water management is necessary, both in densely populated Flanders, with its intensive water use, and in Wallonia, where floods alternate with droughts. Circular solutions such as the separation, buffering and reuse of rainwater and wastewater, or the renovation and construction of wastewater treatment plants, offer new opportunities for industry to use water more efficiently.
Swift action thanks to a streamlined process
Access to the right subsidies for process optimisation, energy greening or production capacity expansion often depends on obtaining a permit in good time. A Permit Quick Scan swiftly identifies complex regulations and potential bottlenecks and speeds up the permit process, resulting in better EIA and OVA reports, and files that can withstand legal scrutiny. Sophisticated project and process management with integral EPCm can also expedite concept, design & engineering, and commissioning.
Industrial transition: the connecting link
The industrial transition is at the heart of a network of major changes and challenges. It is inextricably linked to the urban, energy, and transport transitions. By making industrial processes smarter, more sustainable, and circular, we lay the foundation for future-proof cities, clean energy, and efficient mobility. Our holistic approach goes beyond the boundaries of the industry itself. Smart energy networks, circular models, and innovative technologies such as AI and big data create synergies that strengthen urban and transport-oriented solutions. Discover how our projects and collaborations contribute to sustainable production, innovative mobility concepts, and energy savings.