Electrification of ceramic industries high temperature heating equipment

The European ceramic industry emits 19 million tons of CO₂ annually, accounting for about 1% of total industrial emissions regulated by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The thermal process used in this sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

eLITHE aims to revolutionise the ceramic industry by harnessing renewable electricity to power the thermal processes. The project will facilitate the decarbonisation of the ceramic sector, supporting the EU’s target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

eLITHE objectives are:

Replacing fossil-based systems with high-temperature electric heating processes.
Developing digital tools for optimising and scaling electric heating technologies in industries.
Creating innovative materials compatible with electric heating.
Supporting green job creation and enhancing European industries’ competitiveness.

As most emissions in the ceramic sector are heat-related, complete decarbonisation can be achieved through electrification.
The project will develop innovative solutions in three demosites, such as microwave-assisted heating in Mytilineos (Greece), novel flexible hybrid H2 burners in IZF (Germany) and electric technologies in Torrecid (Spain).

MYTILINEOS | GREECE

Microwave- assisted heating

IZF | GERMANY

Flexible hybrid H2 burners

TORRECID | SPAIN

Electric technologies

The project kicked off in January 2024 and will run until 31 December 2027. Coordinated by Fundaciòn CIRCE in Spain, eLITHE involves a consortium of 17 partners from 9 European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Portugal).