On 16 March 2023 the European Commission published its Proposal for the Net Zero Industry Act. The aim of the Proposal is to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of net-zero technologies manufacturing in the EU, and make energy system more secure and sustainable. It is expected to create better conditions to set up net-zero projects in Europe and attract investments, with the aim that the Union’s overall strategic net-zero technologies manufacturing capacity approaches or reaches at least 40% of the Union’s deployment needs by 2030.

Strategic net zero technologies identified in the Proposal include: solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies, battery/storage technologies, heat pumps, electrolysers etc.

The legislative proposal is available here and the press release of the Commission with more information can be found here.

Together with the Net Zero Industry Act the European Commission published on 16 March 2023 a Communication on the European Hydrogen Bank.

The European Hydrogen Bank aims to unlock private investments in hydrogen value chains in the EU and in third countries by connecting renewable hydrogen supply with the emerging demand by European off-takers and thus to establish an initial market for renewable hydrogen. The Bank will promote the production of renewable hydrogen domestically as well as imports from international producers to European consumers.

More information can be found here

A preliminary study on new product priorities in the context of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) from the Joint Research Center of the European Commission has identified 12 end-use products and 7 intermediary products to possibly target as priority products once the ESPR enters into force. Ceramic products are included in the end-use products priorities.

Short-listed end-use ceramic products are refractory products, vitrified clay pipes, expanded clay aggregates, tableware, sanitaryware and technical ceramics. Construction products are excluded as Ecodesign requirements are laid down in the revised Construction Products Regulation.

The ESPR will target these products by introducing measures on durability and recyclability of products as well as post-consumer recycled content.

The results illustrated in this report are to be considered as preliminary: they do not bind the Commission and are without prejudice to what may ultimately be prioritised for first action under ESPR or included in the first ESPR Working Plan.

A public consultation launched by the European Commission is open until 12 May 2023. Cerame-Unie will reply to the consultation with a position paper. (ACB)

Yet again we shall be delivering a topical programme with expert speakers covering the key issues and outlook insights for the supply and demand of industrial minerals used in the oilfield market.

In its eighth year, our unique Oilfield Minerals & Markets Forum consistently brings together under one roof the major players across the global supply chain, from mineral producers, processors, and traders to logisticians, financiers, and end use consumers.

Sponsorship, Exhibition, Registration Enquiries

E: ismene@imformed.com

T:+44 (0)208 224 0425

M:+44 (0)7905 771 494

Programme, Speaker Enquiries

E: mike@imformed.com

T:+44 (0)1372 450 679

M:+44 (0)7985 986 255

Más de 150 personas asistieron en la mañana del 9 de marzo a la V Jornada Vigilancer “Confluencias”, celebrada en el paraninfo de la Universitat Jaume I de Castelló (UJI) con la presencia, en el acto de apertura, de David Cabedo, vicerrector de Innovación, Transferencia y Divulgación Científica de la UJI, quien puso de manifiesto la importancia de la cooperación universidad-empresa; Ximo Huguet, diputado de Promoción Cerámica de la Diputación de Castellón, que apoya el proyecto, quien destacó el compromiso firme de la Diputación de Castellón con el sector cerámico promoviendo distintas iniciativas como Vigilancer y muchas otras; el vicepresidente 1º del Consejo Rector de la Asociación de Investigación de las Industrias Cerámicas (AICE), Miguel Nicolás, que puso en valor la labor del ITC-AICE como punto de apoyo para el crecimiento y la innovación en el sector cerámico, y el responsable de Vigilancer en el Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica, Vicente Lázaro, que dio paso a esta 5ª edición de la jornada.

En esta ocasión, y en una coyuntura tan compleja como la que atraviesa el sector cerámico, han “confluido” precisamente en el paraninfo de la UJI, representantes de empresas cuya experiencia ha aportado un gran valor. En esta edición, Vigilancer ha pretendido llevar a cabo un encuentro intersectorial donde mostrar casos de éxito, nuevos modelos de negocio y aportaciones que tienen que ver con la resiliencia sectorial.

Tras la apertura, Javier Jiménez, director General en Lanzadera, inició la jornada con su ponencia “Reinventarse cada día”; Javier Llorens, Co-Founder en Airnatech, no pudo acudir, como estaba previsto, por fuerzas de causa mayor, siendo Pablo Aguirre, CEO de Estudio Cactus quien tomó la palabra con la ponencia: “La digitalización de procesos analógicos: camino a la eficiencia”.

Tras una pausa-café llegó el turno de Luz Lozano, gerente de Producto y Marketing de Tau Cerámica, quien puso el acento en “El valor de las personas”, seguida de Marcos J. Lacruz, CEO en NRG Investment, que habló sobre “Silicon Valen” y la oportunidad de reindustrialización europea”. Para terminar, el socio fundador de Iter Consultores y conferenciante, Emilio Duró, ofreció una intervención motivacional con el título: “No vale rendirse”.

Las personas asistentes mostraron un gran interés por todas estas aportaciones, que el equipo de Vigilancer escogió para, precisamente, en tiempos convulsos como los que vive hoy el sector cerámico, poder aportar las vivencias y situaciones que han atravesado y atraviesan otros sectores y tener así una referencia desde sus puntos de vista y sus actitudes ante la adversidad.

Toda la información sobre Vigilancer se puede consultar en

www.vigilancer.es

The XVIII^th Conference of the European Ceramic Society will take place in Lyon, on 2-6 July 2023.

Lyon, where the Rhône and the Saône rivers meet, has always been a city of exchanges and industrial development, with major historic landmarks. ‘Lugdunum’ was founded in 43BC by the Romans and served as the capital of Gaul. It was also famous, as the world capital of silk, during the French Renaissance. Lyon’s cuisine is famous all over the world, the cinema was invented by the Lumière brothers in this City of Lights, surrounded by prestigious wine areas where you can taste Beaujolais, Burgundy and Côtes-du-Rhône, not far from the Alps and of course Mont Blanc. Lyon is also the city of cutting edge industry and engineering, especially in the fields of chemistry and materials, bio-technology and medicine, mobility systems, with numerous schools and faculties created to answer technological and societal needs.

Thus, it is a great pleasure to welcome ceramists in the City of Lights, to share the latest discoveries in ceramic science and technology, reconnect with colleagues from around the world, in a convivial conference atmosphere . The conference, hosting ceramic experts from industry and academia, offering a unique opportunity to participate in an international event covering the development and applications of ceramic-based systems.
In addition to the now traditional symposia dealing with innovative processing, thermo-mechanical properties, modelling and ceramics for different high-tech applications, emphasis will also be given to advanced characterization techniques, silicate-based ceramics and materials for building applications, as well as the place of ceramics in necessary sustainable development. Lyon has been growing and evolving for 2,000 years: it is today a leading sustainable destination. Therefore, intent on reducing our environmental impact, we will make this XVIII^th ECerS conference a truly “think green” event.