This summary reflects on the progress made in ECOFACT over the duration of the project (2020-2025), highlighting key achievements from September 2024 (Month 48) to May 2025 (Month 56).
WP2 – Holistic monitoring and data-acquisition solutions (IPT)
Key achievements:
- Finalization of the Installation of all platforms
- Testing of data aggregation for the demo sites. Especially TOF and ARC which were delayed for the platform installation.
- Implementation and finalization of the middle layer software
- Testing of data aggregation by local platforms and data pipeline through the middle layer to the Ecofact platfom
WP3 – Energy and Resource Management Systems (ONE)
Key achievements:
- Enablement of the DTP’s digital twin monitoring module with real-time data in both the GUL and TOF demo sites – more than 450 energy and resource parameters are being monitored in TOF, while production line changes are being shown in GUL.
- Final set-up of the threshold and alarm message for the AB CO2 evaporator digital twin model.
- Monitoring of the chemical products and daily production of car bodies in the digital twins of the TOF Eisenmann E-coat and Geico E-coat lines, as part of the testing and validation strategy.
- Update of the DTP’s Factory Hub tool for the TOF Batching and E-coat use cases.
- IT improvements to the DTP’s Industrial Energy Disaggregation (IED) tool for all the four pilot factories.
WP4 – Dynamic LCA/LCCA module and value chain data integration (PRÉ)
Key achievements:
- Developed dynamic LCA and LCC models for four industrial demo sites, enabling continuous environmental and cost performance monitoring.
- Designed and piloted a Supply Chain Collaboration Service (SCCS) to enable real-time data sharing between suppliers and manufacturers.
- Delivered an open-source toolkit and step-by-step guidance for implementing real-time LCA/LCC in factory environments using the ECOFACT platform.
- Integrated the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to support scenario-based decision-making based on user-defined environmental, economic, and technical criteria.
- Identified and analysed critical environmental and economic parameters, facilitating targeted interventions and improved lifecycle performance across demo sites.
WP5 – ECOFACT platform and ICT framework development (LINKS)
Key achievements:
- The ECOFACT platform architecture was successfully designed based on open standards, ensuring scalability, interoperability, and security-by-design.
- A modular, data-driven ICT infrastructure was deployed, including a distributed Data Brokering Layer using Apache Kafka and unified data models for cross-site integration.
- The Decision Support System (DSS) was developed and integrated, enabling data-driven recommendations and energy optimization insights across the pilot use cases.
- A dynamic and user-friendly dashboard was delivered, providing real-time access to energy, production, and environmental data.
- A secure-by-design architecture was defined, incorporating validated cybersecurity requirements and ensuring robust, flexible, and standards-compliant data communication across the platform.
WP6 – Demonstrations (CERTH)
Key achievements:
- Installation of key hardware components for the ECOFACT solution has been successfully completed at all demo sites.
- All ECOFACT use cases have been finalized, with detailed implementation plans in place.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each use case have been defined to assess the impact of the ECOFACT solution.
- The ECOFACT monitoring campaign has officially launched at the Athenian Brewery site, with campaigns also underway at Tofaş, Arçelik, and Gullón.
- Pre-demo site activities, including infrastructure setup, system integration, and initial testing, have been completed.
WP7 – Standardization, certification and regulation of energy efficient manufacturing (UNE)
Key achievements:
- Provision to ECOFACT partners with information on European and international standards and standards under development relevant to the WP´s tasks.
- Publication of a CEN Workshop Agreement 18188 on “Energy Management and Sustainable Manufacturing (EMSM) Project in factories of industrial organizations – A Methodology – Requirements”. It helps factories showcase their sustainability performance.
- Development of a certification scheme for conformity assessment of projects implementing CEN Workshop Agreement 18188. It is a tool for providing visibility and confidence on sustainability performance.
- Identification of main existing climate and energy policy instruments to promote energy efficient manufacturing management and the main barriers for their implementation.
WP8 – Replication and Exploitation (RINA)
Key achievements:
- Feasibility analysis of 5 Early Adopter industrial cases.
- Impact assessment and replication studies based on scenarios, analysing environmental benefits found in each demo site (energy and GHG savings), social benefits and economics savings.
- Identification and characterisation of 16 Key Exploitable Results (KERs).
- Definition of suitable business models and TRL9 Roadmap for each KERs.
- Definition of an exploitation plan and IPR management practices, also involving the support provided by the Horizon Result Booster service.
WP9 – Dissemination and Communication (IMR)
Key achievements:
- Ensured consistent updates across ECOFACT communication channels to effectively reach stakeholders and amplify the project’s message.
- Constant dissemination of key insights from consortium participation at major industry events, including, in the past months SEB-24 Conference, Autodesk event and ECOFACT M56 General Assembly.
- Promotion of key results of the project on the website and social media channels, including, in the past months, the development and publication of a CEN Workshop Agreement and the policy briefing to drive sustainable manufacturing released by the Ecoenergy Cluster (that encompasses ECOFACT and other sister-projects)
- Organisation of the project’s final event, inserted in the first day of the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Conference, in Dublin, showcasing the results of the different work packages.
