On a crisp and sunny Friday afternoon in October, the GALILEO project took center stage at a vibrant ETF stakeholder event, bringing together Belgium’s energy innovators at the intersection of policy, research, and industry. Hosted as part of the Belgian EnergieTransitieFonds’ showcase of forward-looking initiatives, the event served as a perfect moment for reconnecting with familiar faces across the transition ecosystem—and an excelent backdrop to introduce the GALILEO mission.
Representing the project, Helena Gerard (EnergyVille – VITO) delivered an engaging presentation that unpacked GALILEO’s core ambition: unlocking industrial flexibility as a key enabler of system adequacy and decarbonization. With eight objectives and six interconnected work packages, the project is already gaining momentum thanks to strong collaboration between industrial partners like Aperam, Nyrstar, Tessenderlo Group, and Tiense Suiker, alongside academic and market experts from KU Leuven, ENTRAS, and Elia. The reference cases, which cover sectors ranging from metallurgy to data centers, were a focal point of interest—illustrating how technologies such as e-boilers, steam turbines, and virtual batteries can support both grid stability and industrial competitiveness.
Beyond the formal presentations, the ETF event offered space for meaningful exchange—with coffee in hand and the last of the autumn sun lighting up conversations. As the energy transition accelerates, GALILEO continues to build bridges between research, regulation, and real-world implementation. Events like these remind us of the value of dialogue, shared vision, and, of course, a bit of Belgian sunshine.
