Athens, January 31, 2025 – Today marks the official launch of the META BUILD project, a significant initiative under the Horizon Europe programme aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of buildings across Europe. The project brings together a consortium of leading research institutions, technology providers, and municipalities to develop and implement innovative solutions for sustainable building energy systems.
About META BUILD
META BUILD, short for “Powering the METAmorphosis of BUILDings towards a decarbonised and sustainable energy system”, focuses on integrating advanced technologies such as heat pumps, photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems, and second-life batteries into residential and commercial buildings. The project will utilize AI-driven Digital Twins to optimize energy performance and facilitate the transition to low-carbon heating and cooling solutions.
Project Objectives
The primary objectives of META BUILD include:
- Decarbonisation as a Service: Providing scalable solutions for building electrification and energy efficiency.
- Integration of Renewable Energy: Incorporating PVT systems and heat pumps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- AI-Driven Optimization: Employing Digital Twins to monitor and enhance building energy performance in real-time.
- Replication Across Europe: Implementing pilot projects in various European cities to demonstrate and scale the solutions.
Kick-Off Event
The official kick-off meeting took place in Athens, bringing together all project partners to align on goals, timelines, and collaborative strategies. The event featured presentations from key stakeholders, including representatives from the European Commission, national ministries, and local municipalities.
Statements from Project Leaders Vaggelis Marinakis, Project Coordinator, stated: "META BUILD represents a significant step towards achieving the EU's climate goals. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaboration across borders, we aim to set a new standard for sustainable building practices."
Alexios Lekidis, Co-Project Lead, added: "Our involvement in META BUILD allows us to pilot innovative solutions that can be replicated in cities across Europe, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of large-scale building decarbonisation."
Next Steps
Following the successful kick-off, META BUILD will move into the mapping, data collection, and engineering phases. This includes gathering detailed information about pilot buildings, assessing energy needs, and designing tailored solutions for integrating heat pumps, PVT systems, and energy storage to achieve optimal energy efficiency.
About Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, designed to support projects that address global challenges and enhance Europe's competitiveness. META BUILD is one of the initiatives funded under Horizon Europe to promote sustainability and climate action. For more information about the META BUILD project, see the press release of EHPA here