BEYOND project – The technology we need now for Europe’s target of 2050
BEYOND - method for smart and affordaBle Evaluation of simultaneous faults in heating and cooling sYstems based ON compresseD vapor technology - is a pioneering project under the European Innovation Council framework (Sept. 2024, Aug. 2028). It introduces a cutting-edge, knowledge-driven method for detecting, diagnosing, and evaluating soft faults in heating and cooling systems powered by vapor compression technology.
Our solution targets two critical challenges—refrigerant leakage and heat exchanger fouling—delivering effective management for more efficient and sustainable systems.
Why does BEYOND project matter?
Heating and cooling systems are essential for comfort and food preservation but are major contributors to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As Europe adopts renewable energy sources and stricter regulations (EPBD, F-Gas), challenges persist:
- Soft faults, such as refrigerant leakage and fouling, often remain undetected.
- These issues silently increase lifetime energy consumption by up to 30%, amplifying emissions.
BEYOND addresses these challenges with a scalable, cost-effective solution for small systems, including household heat pumps, vehicle air conditioners, and compact refrigeration units.
Why Beyond would make a difference?
Introducing a scalable method to identify and quantify soft faults early.
Using IoT and ICT technologies to process data, assess impacts, and support human decision-making.
Ensuring cost-effective implementation with minimal hardware upgrades
Which innovations can we get from this project?
Precise identification of up to three concurrent soft faults, including severity assessment.
A knowledge-based approach that avoids expensive, invasive instrumentation.
Real-time IoT integration for continuous system monitoring.
Advanced decision intelligence, offering actionable insights to reduce emissions and energy use.
What can you expect from this project?
Resilient Operation: Maintaining system performance above a critical threshold to minimize energy waste and environmental impact.
Economic accessibility: Low-cost solutions for diverse applications.
Global scalability: Addressing millions of heat pumps and vehicle air conditioners in Europe and beyond.
Sustainability: Supporting Europe’s energy transition and offering affordable solutions for manufacturers and users worldwide.
"With BEYOND, we’re paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible future in heating and cooling technologies."
