The sustainability performance of the CATCHER technology: Anthesis’s research contribution
Technological innovation in the sustainability space is advancing rapidly in response to the need for more efficient use of natural resources. The CATCHER technology is a strong example of this process, offering a unique opportunity to strengthen the European renewable and decentralised energy landscape.
However, as with all emerging solutions, it is essential to integrate impact assessment from the early stages of design and scale-up. Doing so helps quantify the benefits of new technologies and effectively anticipate and minimise potential trade-offs to support sustainable deployment.
To support this process for the CATCHER converters, Anthesis has conducted a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) for the CATCHER technology following the EU ORIENTING framework. This methodology combines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), enabling a holistic evaluation of the sustainability performance of the converter’s full life cycle — from raw material acquisition to end-of-life.
Working closely with the research and engineering teams, the study has provided greater visibility into the impacts of the converters and helped embed sustainability directly into project decision-making. In addition, the findings support comparisons with other existing renewable energy sources, offering insights into the competitiveness of the devices and their potential role in the EU energy market.
Assessment results point to a favourable overall sustainability performance, including early indications of potential environmental advantages over comparable alternative technologies, as well as opportunities to contribute positively to energy access, community autonomy, and resilience. At the same time, impact hotspots were identified across the three sustainability dimensions — environmental, social, and economic — resulting in recommendations for improvement. Some of these recommendations have already been taken into account in project planning.
Presenting CATCHER at LCM 2025
Anthesis presented this work at the 12th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM 2025), a leading international forum dedicated to applying life cycle thinking to support sustainability transitions. The conference took place in Palermo, Italy, from 9 to 12 September 2025.
There, the team shared the approach and relevance of the work with researchers and industry actors, highlighting how sustainability assessment can strengthen the development of innovative renewable energy technologies such as CATCHER.
Towards final dissemination of results
Anthesis is currently preparing a scientific publication to disseminate the final results of the study and to highlight the contribution of this work both to the CATCHER project and to the broader field of sustainability and impact assessment.
Links
12th International Conference on Life Cycle Management (LCM 2025),
Keywords
CATCHER, Anthesis, sustainability assessment, life cycle assessment, LCSA, renewable energy, impact assessment, LCM 2025, innovation, Horizon Europe
