The TEDS25 summit organised by CIC energiGUNE places thermal storage as the key to decarbonisation of high temperature industrial processes

The conclusions of the event ‘Thermal Energy Decarbonization Summit 2025 – TEDS25’, which brought together institutional leaders, industry professionals and creators of ideas from all over Europe in Vitoria-Gasteiz, open the door to a real scenario of decarbonisation of industrial companies, whatever their size, based on circular economy criteria and techniques associated with the electrification of heat and renewable energies.

Among the practical and successful cases presented at the conference, the innovative pilot plant installed at ArcelorMittal Sestao, within the framework of the European LIFE HI4S project led by CIC energiGUNE, which combines the production of heat and electricity through a system of direct recovery of waste heat and which enables energy savings equivalent to the consumption of 17,000 households, stood out.

CIC energiGUNE, a leading Basque research centre in electrochemical energy storage and conversion and thermal energy storage and conversion, has concluded the TEDS25 summit, dedicated to the decarbonisation of high-temperature industrial processes, with an important endorsement of alternatives based on innovative concepts such as waste heat recovery, electrification of heat, the development of solar thermal energy or the improvement of thermal energy quality.

The event brought together industry professionals, creators of ideas and institutional decision-makers in Vitoria-Gasteiz to debate innovative solutions that effectively promote the decarbonisation of high-temperature industrial processes. The day included presentations by leading experts, such as Andreas Hauer and Marina Garcia, and a visit to an innovative technology demonstrator that shows the potential of new solutions in energy storage and efficiency.

During the day, TEDS25 attendees had the opportunity to enjoy top-level presentations, round tables and poster sessions, with the presence of experts covering the entire value chain, from the definition of policies to new business opportunities. All of them have contributed to outline a scenario of expansion for the process of decarbonisation of industrial processes at medium and high temperatures, opening the doors to new business opportunities, such as alternative fuels of renewable origin.

In particular, the event highlighted the importance of advanced technologies, such as thermal storage, heat pumps and the use of solar energy, to achieve decarbonisation objectives. In fact, as Paul Kenny, CEO of EHPA, said, ‘62% of process heat demand could be electrified with off-the-shelf heat pumps’.

The summit was also attended by representatives of public institutions, who highlighted the role of regulation and incentives in the promotion of clean technologies.

Cristina Oyón, Director of Technology, Innovation and Sustainability at SPRI, recalled that ‘collaboration and commitment between the government and the main energy companies operating in the region is key to accelerating the energy transition and promoting a more sustainable industrial model’.

One of the highlights of the event was the visit to the technology demonstrator of the LIFE HI4S project located at ArcelorMittal and coordinated by CIC energiGUNE, where attendees were able to learn first-hand how thermal storage can improve the efficiency and sustainability of industrial processes.

‘This type of solution not only reduces emissions, but also optimises energy consumption, allowing savings of up to 60 GWh/year, equivalent to the consumption of more than 17,000 homes’, explained Daniel Bielsa, Technology Coordinator at CIC energiGUNE.

The event concluded with a commitment from the attendees to continue promoting innovative solutions and strategic collaborations to advance the decarbonisation of the industry. ‘Events like this demonstrate that the energy transition is an opportunity to transform industry through collaboration between research centres and industry, guaranteeing its competitiveness in a decarbonised world’, concluded Beatriz Corral, Head of Market and Customers at CIC energiGUNE.

On the other hand, CIC energiGUNE wanted to highlight the significant presence of industrial companies among those attending the congress, which demonstrates the existing interest in new technologies that facilitate decarbonisation. ‘We have managed to make TEDS25 a meeting point for companies to learn about the most effective tools available and to establish contacts with solution providers, which is why we can describe this edition of TEDS25 as a success’, said the CIC energiGUNE team.