Engineering, Sustainability, and Innovation: Key Pillars for Meeting European Taxonomy Standards

“The transition to a low-carbon economy requires a fundamental transformation in the way businesses operate, and the EU Taxonomy is essential for guiding and supporting this transformation.” – European Investment Bank (EIB)

Energy transition is at the heart of European policies, with the clear aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability through activities aligned with the European Union’s environmental objectives. However, the generator sector, often perceived as having a significant environmental impact due to the use of fossil fuels, has been excluded from the European Taxonomy for sustainable economic activities. This situation has sparked a debate about the role that power generators can play in the energy transition.

In this article, we explore how the generator sector, particularly emergency generators, cannot only meet the expectations of the European Taxonomy but also lead the way in the energy transition towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly industry.

Let’s Start from the Beginning: What is the European Taxonomy?

The European Taxonomy is a classification system designed to help identify and guide investments towards environmentally sustainable economic activities. This classification enables investors, businesses, and policy makers to make informed decisions about which activities can contribute to the EU’s climate and sustainability goals, aligning with the European Green Deal.

Taxonomy establishes a set of key pillars that define what qualifies as a sustainable economic activity and the criteria that must be met for an activity to be considered aligned with the EU’s environmental targets.

These pillars, essential for ensuring that investments flow into sectors that genuinely contribute to a greener and more sustainable future, are as follows:

• Climate Change Mitigation: This principle advocates for the development of activities that help to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which are responsible for global warming. Activities that contribute to climate change mitigation include the adoption and expansion of renewable energy sources and those that enhance energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transport.
  Additionally, mitigation involves transitioning to sustainable mobility models, such as electric vehicles, and promoting agricultural and land-use practices that sequester carbon instead of releasing it, such as regenerative agriculture or reforestation.
• Climate Change Adaptation: This refers to activities that increase the resilience of natural and human systems to the impacts of climate change. It is one of the most crucial pillars, especially given that the effects of climate change are already evident and will continue to intensify in the coming decades.
  Adaptation activities include improving urban infrastructure to make it more resistant to extreme weather events such as floods or heatwaves. Also included in this category are initiatives that promote sustainable water management and the adaptation of agriculture to new climatic conditions, with drought-resistant crops or more efficient irrigation techniques.
• Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: The loss of biodiversity and the degradation of natural ecosystems are among the most severe consequences of climate change. For this reason, the Taxonomy encourages activities that help preserve existing ecosystems and restore damaged ones, contributing to the long-term sustainability of life on Earth.
  This includes reforestation projects, the creation of protected areas to conserve natural habitats and endangered species, as well as sustainable agricultural practices that protect soils and water bodies. Furthermore, the protection of marine ecosystems and the restoration of aquatic habitats are also essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services such as water purification and climate regulation.
• Circular Economy: This pillar promotes activities aimed at minimising waste and maximising the reuse of resources, such as recycling, material reuse, and the design of products that are easily recyclable or require fewer resources for production.
  However, the circular economy is not only about waste reduction—it is also linked to reducing the extraction of natural resources by promoting the recovery of materials from discarded products, thereby reducing pressure on ecosystems and minimising the carbon footprint.

For an activity to be considered aligned with the European Taxonomy, it must meet a set of specific technical criteria that significantly contribute to the objectives mentioned. These criteria focus not only on activities that generate a direct positive environmental impact but also on the principle of “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) to other objectives. This means that, in addition to positively contributing to one of the pillars, an activity must not harm other sustainability aspects, such as biodiversity or human health.

This comprehensive approach ensures that investments and activities aligned with the Taxonomy are not only environmentally responsible but also promote sustainable economic development that is socially inclusive and does not cause long-term damage to natural resources.

Why Should This Not Be the Case? The Crucial Role of Power Generators

The exclusion of the generator sector from the eligible activities under the Taxonomy could overlook the fundamental role these machines play in the energy transition. Emergency generators are essential for ensuring the security and reliability of electricity supply. As the integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid increases, so does the need to secure a stable and reliable energy supply. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are inherently variable, which can lead to fluctuations in electricity generation.

In this context, emergency generators act as a safeguard for the power grid, rapidly compensating for any drop in generation and maintaining grid stability.

Furthermore, technological advancements have made it possible to design emergency generators that use sustainable fuels, such as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), and emission reduction technologies. Solutions such as gas post-treatment systems, including diesel particulate filters (DPF), selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and urea injection, enable generators to operate with a significantly lower carbon footprint, aligning with the EU’s sustainability goals and contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, the limited use of these generators—typically operating only a few hours per year—minimises their environmental impact, as their emissions are negligible compared to continuous energy generation sources.

Moreover, new innovations enable generators to be more fuel-efficient and minimise emissions. The adoption of technologies such as thermal insulation systems enhances not only safety but also the operational efficiency of these generators. This makes emergency generators an integral part of sustainable infrastructure, ensuring grid stability while supporting the integration of renewable energy and providing reliable backup power when it is most needed.

A Case Study from Genesal Energy

At Genesal Energy, we have developed several projects that serve as clear examples of how the generator sector can adapt to the sustainability standards imposed by the European Taxonomy. Recently, we carried out a project that demonstrates that, through engineering, it is possible to integrate solutions into these machines that reduce their environmental impact without compromising their reliability and efficiency.

A key aspect of this project was compliance with highly stringent emissions regulations in Belgium. To achieve this, advanced gas post-treatment systems were incorporated, including diesel particulate filters (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea injection. These technologies minimise pollutant emissions to the maximum, aligning with the most demanding environmental standards.

Additionally, the generator design included solutions that optimise energy efficiency and ensure safety in harsh environments. Custom load steps were implemented to improve energy consumption, and fuel heaters were added to ensure operability in low temperatures with ATEX (Explosive Atmosphere) certification for maximum safety. Leak detection systems and liquid collection trays were also installed, reinforcing environmental protection.

<blockquote class=”bq-border”>To ensure efficient and safe operation, the project incorporated an independent electrical room equipped with a remote control panel, allowing remote management of the generators.</blockquote>

Medium-voltage grounding resistors and a medium-voltage switchgear with automatic circuit breakers were also added to integrate with the plant’s installation requirements.

Finally, special attention was given to reducing acoustic impact, incorporating soundproofing solutions to keep noise levels below 80 dB at 1m under normal operating conditions, significantly reducing noise emissions. Motorised grilles were also included to isolate the generators from the environment during inactivity periods, optimising efficiency and extending their lifespan.

This case demonstrates that, thanks to new technological solutions, sustainability can be a fundamental aspect of the generator sector, enabling compliance with the strictest European Taxonomy and environmental regulations while contributing to the transition to a cleaner and more efficient energy model.