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In early 2020, the world was hit by the COVID-19 virus, causing a crisis in many sectors and also having a clear impact on the energy system. In this article, we take a closer look at the short-term and long-term impact of the coronavirus on the energy system, and highlight some research and regulatory issues.

The case of ammonia production in the Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhine-Ruhr-Area

Luca Scapino (30) has been working as a researcher for the Thermal Energy and Energy Markets group of VITO/EnergyVille in Genk since October 2019. Before, he had already finished his PhD research there. “Energy has always been the main theme throughout my education and career.” Fundamental research has always interested me, but I also want to stay close to economic and industrial reality. To me, VITO/EnergyVille is the perfect combination of academic work and business.”

Does Lommel qualify for geothermal energy in order to use the natural heat of the earth for heating networks and green energy production? VITO is investigating this within the framework of the Interreg project "Roll-out of Deep Geothermal Energy in N-W Europe". The next step in the research is a so-called seismic campaign. The deep subsoil of Lommel and the surrounding area is mapped by using vibration trucks, starting off at the Balmatt site. Hence we get a better view of the geothermal heat potential in this region. 

"If we really want to make the world sustainable and have an impact, industry and knowledge institutions must work together." With this statement, Professor Dr. Steven De Haes, dean of the Antwerp Management School (AMS) opened the online ceremony with which the new Chair in Management Education for Sustainability of the AMS and Breda University of Applied Sciences was officially launched. VITO is committed to supporting this chair, which is unique in the world, for the next three years.

After receiving a new kidney, transplant patients need to undergo painful biopsies for years to monitor their condition. Together with European partners, VITO searched for and found a set of biomarkers that are easily measurable in urine and that provide an accurate and rapid indication of rejection. It’s now a matter of putting the test into clinical practice as quickly as possible, including at Leuven University Hospital.

Health, innovation and privacy often seem difficult to combine. Worse still: in the current system, they are often in conflict, although this is rather because of how that system handles data. VITO's Data Science Hub is helping to build a society and economy in which data-driven research and innovation are encouraged – alongside respect for citizens' privacy.

With some domestic companies switching to mass production of face masks, there is suddenly a great need for thorough and accredited quality control. That is why VITO is rapidly expanding its existing test infrastructure for the control of FFP face masks.