Again with a view to reducing energy consumption at plants, C.R.F. worked on the targeted use of micro- and nanotechnologies to maximise energy efficiency and achieve savings. For lighting, research looked at highefficiency optical solutions based on high-output LED sources, while the positioning of LED sources and their ground lighting profile was optimised based on user requirements. For thermoelectric systems, innovative materials were employed to convert thermal energy directly into electricity to recover waste heat from thermal processes. Lastly, the potential for recovering vibrational and photoelectric energy to power local electronic devices was evaluated. This technology also enables construction of networks of wireless sensors which can be used to enhance energy management for each individual stage of a process.