ISQ Group invests half a million euros in photovoltaics and bets on green energies

The theme of clean energy and sustainable development is at the heart of ISQ's concerns, both for the market, through the provision of services to industry with innovative solutions developed by R&D teams, as well as participation in major national and international projects. "We have just invested more than half a million euros in a photovoltaic-based renewable energy project, with the installation of more than 2000 panels on the ISQ campus in Taguspark and other facilities across the country, representing an annual savings of 535 tonnes of CO2/year, corresponding to the planting of 3800 trees and an estimated energy bill savings of more than €150,000/year," announces Pedro Matias, President of ISQ. This initiative follows a strategy of sustainable and "green" growth already initiated previously, both in terms of internal know-how and the provision of services in the field of sustainability, promotion and adoption of Renewable Energies. Sustainable environmental practices dominate the world due to climate transition (global warming), energy transition (renewable and clean energy) and digital transition (resource optimisation), and this paradigm is unavoidable at various levels: from electricity production, buildings, transport, cities, industrial processes, waste and agricultural practices. The theme is on the public agenda – with the roadmap for carbon neutrality 2050 (RNC) and the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030 (PNEC). "ISQ operates in this theme in two aspects: energy efficiency, with solutions for buildings and industry, helping to reduce the carbon footprint in various industry ranks; and resource efficiency, helping companies reduce waste. This is the case with the circular economy and industrial symbiosis," adds Pedro Matias. At the level of the projects in which we participate, the Ecotermip European Project stands out, which aims to promote eco-efficiency measures applied to the thermal processes of the Portuguese industry. It focuses on 4 industrial sectors: metallomechanics, ceramics, dairy agro-feed and meat-based product manufacturing. Another example is the reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings in Europe, with the European surefit project, coordinated by ISQ. It is intended to empower European industries to pioneer the development of new advanced technologies for building rehabilitation, with innovative and more economical environmental solutions, thereby significantly reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions in buildings. Other initiatives in which ISQ is present are to create mechanisms to intensify the application of industrial symbiosis practices in Europe through the development of action plans and solutions adapted to industries, industrial and business associations, as well as regional and national authorities (SCALER project) or the TRUST project that aims to boost excellence in research and development in the area of industrial sustainability by increasing knowledge scientific and technical. The aim is to involve European industries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also worth noting the greatest scientific investment in which ISQ participates: ITER. It is the first experimental nuclear fusion reactor capable of generating a positive energy return, demonstrating the scientific and technical feasibility of nuclear fusion as a source of clean energy. ISQ collaborates with F4E – Fusion for Energy – being the reference partner in the area of quality assurance and manufacturing control. The decarbonisation of the economy is more than on the agenda and the next step will be hydrogen decarbonisation. Global trends towards a sustainable society will increasingly require renewable energy and optimisation of the use of fossil fuels. For such hydrogen will be decisive. The question is how to optimise the use of both renewable and fossil fuels to reach a sustainable, low-carbon society. "At the level of the Hydrogen line, ISQ's skills go through the know-how in terms of sustainability, materials and reliability, sensorization and algorithms, risk and safety assessment, training and qualifications and quality assurance and control," concludes Pedro Matias.