HyCool · Project

Solar-Powered Industrial Cooling and Heating That Cuts Factory Energy Bills

energyPilotedTRL 7

Imagine using the sun not just for electricity, but to power the cooling and heating systems that factories depend on every day. HyCool built a system that pairs advanced solar panels with a clever two-in-one heat pump — one that can both cool and heat — so industrial plants can replace a big chunk of their fossil fuel use. They tested it at real factory sites: one in a food processing plant and another in a chemical facility. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for factory temperature control, powered by sunshine.

By the numbers

consortium partners across industry, research, and universities

countries represented in the consortium

76%

industry partner ratio in the consortium

SMEs involved in development and testing

industrial pilot sites (food and chemical sectors)

total project deliverables completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Industrial cooling and heating consume enormous amounts of energy, most of it from fossil fuels. Factories — especially in food processing and chemicals — run compressors and boilers around the clock, facing volatile energy prices and tightening carbon regulations. Existing solar thermal solutions are too rigid: they deliver a narrow temperature range and cannot easily switch between heating and cooling modes to match shifting production needs.

The solution

What was built

A full-scale hybrid heat pump combining adsorption and compressor technologies, paired with Fresnel concentrated solar thermal collectors. The system was manufactured, commissioned, and verified at demo sites for hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical performance. A GIS-BIM based Intelligent Training System was also developed for installation support. In total, 29 deliverables were completed across the project.

Audience

Who needs this

Food processing plants with refrigeration and cooling needs in sunny regionsChemical manufacturers requiring both steam and cooling across multiple processesEnergy service companies (ESCOs) looking for solar thermal industrial solutionsFacility managers at factories seeking to reduce fossil fuel dependence for thermal processesIndustrial park operators planning shared heating and cooling infrastructure

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food & Beverage Processing

SME

Target: Small to mid-size food processing companies in southern Europe

If you are a food processing company in a high-solar-irradiation area dealing with rising energy costs for refrigeration and cooling — this project developed a full-scale hybrid heat pump paired with solar thermal collectors that delivers industrial cooling from sunlight. The system was specifically piloted for food industry cooling needs, optimized for maximum efficiency in a simple configuration. With 17 consortium partners validating the design, this is field-tested technology, not a lab concept.

Chemical Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Chemical plants with combined steam and cooling requirements

If you are a chemical manufacturer juggling multiple thermal processes — steam generation, process cooling, seasonal variation — this project built a flexible hybrid system that switches between heating and cooling modes based on weather, season, and production schedule. The chemical pilot specifically targeted complex multi-process facilities, demonstrating operational flexibility across different configurations. The system was manufactured at full scale and commissioned at demo sites.

Industrial Energy Services

mid-size

Target: Energy service companies (ESCOs) and district cooling providers

If you are an energy service provider looking for bankable solar thermal solutions to offer industrial clients — this project delivered a modular, configurable system backed by a consortium of 13 industry partners including Veolia. The design emphasizes easy configuration optimization and modular construction, making it practical for ESCO business models where installation speed and predictable performance matter.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a system like this cost compared to conventional industrial cooling?

The project data does not include specific pricing. However, HyCool was designed with cost-effectiveness as a core target — the objective explicitly states maximizing 'cost effectiveness to each individual case' during operational expenditure. As an Innovation Action with Veolia as coordinator, the system was engineered for commercial viability, not just research.

Can this work at full industrial scale, or is it still a lab prototype?

This is full industrial scale. The project manufactured and commissioned a full-scale hybrid heat pump, tested at real demo sites. The deliverable confirms verification of hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical functionalities at partner premises. Two industrial pilots — food and chemical — were operated under real production conditions.

What is the IP situation — can my company license or buy this technology?

The consortium includes 17 partners across 6 countries, with 13 industry partners and 8 SMEs. IP arrangements would need to be discussed with the consortium, likely led by coordinator Veolia Serveis Catalunya. Given the high industry ratio of 76%, the consortium was structured for commercialization.

Does the system only work in sunny southern climates?

The pilots targeted high solar irradiation areas, and the objective specifically mentions these conditions. However, the hybrid design — combining solar thermal with heat pumps — means the system can operate even when solar input is lower, using the compressor-based heat pump as backup. Suitability for your location would depend on local solar resources.

How long does installation take?

Based on available project data, the system emphasizes modular construction and includes a GIS-BIM based Intelligent Training System to support commissioning. The project explicitly aimed for 'easiness in design configuration optimization, modular construction and ITS for commissioning' to reduce capital expenditure phase complexity.

Is this compliant with EU energy and environmental regulations?

The project was funded under topic LCE-12-2017 (industrial energy efficiency through solar heat), directly aligned with EU decarbonization targets. As a completed Horizon 2020 Innovation Action coordinated by Veolia, all outputs meet EU research integrity standards. Specific regulatory certifications would need to be confirmed with the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavily industry-driven consortium — 13 out of 17 partners come from the private sector, giving it a 76% industry ratio. That is unusually high for EU-funded projects and signals strong commercial intent. The project is coordinated by Veolia Serveis Catalunya, a subsidiary of the global Veolia group, one of the world's largest environmental services companies. With 8 SMEs in the mix and partners from 6 countries (Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey), the consortium covers both technology providers and potential end-users across key solar-belt markets. The presence of only 1 university and 2 research organizations confirms this was built for deployment, not academic publishing.

VEOLIA SERVEIS CATALUNYA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA UNIPERSONALCoordinator · ES
ASOCIACION ESPANOLA DE NORMALIZACIONparticipant · ES
COMET GLOBAL INNOVATION, SLparticipant · ES
AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBHparticipant · AT
IDP INGENIERIA Y ARQUITECTURA IBERIA SLparticipant · ES
DR. JAKOB ENERGY RESEARCH GMBH & CO. KGparticipant · DE
GIVAUDAN SUISSE SAparticipant · CH
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
PNO INNOVATION SRLparticipant · IT
EKODENGE MUHENDISLIK MIMARLIK DANISMANLIK TICARET ANONIM SIRKETIparticipant · TR
FAHRENHEIT GMBHparticipant · DE
R2M SOLUTION SRLparticipant · IT
FRESNEX GMBHparticipant · AT
EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALTparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

Veolia Serveis Catalunya (Spain) — reach out to their industrial energy or innovation department

Order a report on this consortium See VEOLIA SERVEIS CATALUNYA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA UNIPERSONAL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the HyCool consortium? SciTransfer can connect you with the right technical contact for your specific cooling or heating application.

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