In 2018, the Centre for Combustion and Environment (CCA), a company of the Sofinter group (together with Ansaldo Boilers, Macchi, Itea, EuroPower), and the Polytechnic University of Bari established an integrated multidisciplinary laboratory called “Energy Transition to the Future” (ETF) to work together on research and development activities with the aim of addressing the major challenges involved in making energy needs compatible with environmental protection.

Energy is one of the 12 areas of specialization identified by the PNR 2015-2020 in line with the National Smart Specialization Strategy. In particular, this Area refers to “... innovative components, technologies and systems for the production, storage and distribution, according to a logic of efficient management, of sustainable low-CO2 energy...”.

To actively participate in the transition phase of the energy sector toward greater environmental sustainability, the ETF laboratory is an observatory that monitors the international scientific landscape to identify technological innovation ideas as well as to promote joint research and experimental activities, with particular attention to the following topics:

·      Numerical and experimental study of advanced combustion systems;

·      Study of thermo-acoustic instability;

·      Study of systems for the use of alternative and/or renewable fuels;

·      Energy transformation and storage processes (gasification; power to gas; etc.);

·      SCADA systems for the integrated management of processes;

·      Development of advanced instrumentation and diagnostics;

·      Energy digitalization;

·      CHP - combined generation of heat and electricity;

·      Advanced materials for components with high thermal and chemical resistance;

·      Heat transfer fluids and PCM, Phase Changing Material.

Currently, the laboratory has about 10 researchers. The laboratory is located within the university campus of Bari and is connected to the experimental facilities of CCA in Gioia del Colle (BA), where prototypes can be tested (designed and numerically validated at the Polytechnic University of Bari).