For Tunable Thermochemical Energy Storage

Introduction

To accelerate the energy transition, there is an urgent need for energy storage both for electricity and heat due to the intermittency of renewable resources. A large part of our energy consumption is in the form of thermal energy (78% in the built environment), and there is a significant amount of unused low-temperature waste heat (8900 PJ in Europe). Thermal energy storage offers a route towards bridging availability and demand.

The Need for TCES

Long-term loss-free compact heat storage is the missing link, and Thermo-Chemical Energy Storage (TCES) has the potential to play this role. Unfortunately, present TCES concepts lack flexibility, as a precise fit between the phase diagram of TCES materials, the system design, and the temperature demand of an application is needed.

Challenges in Current TCES Concepts

Therefore, most of the R&D for applying TCES is very specific to a particular application, and switching to another application requires that much of the R&D process has to be redone.

4TunaTES Solution

4TunaTES will deliver a groundbreaking flexible TCES technology that can be easily adapted to different applications (variable in- and output temperatures) and thereby reduce the development costs by 90%, as the R&D process does not have to be redone repeatedly.

TCES Prototype Development

4TunaTES develops a TCES prototype that can be used for domestic use cases, which addresses three challenges:

1. Radically new TCES materials with tunable phase diagrams by using a second gas or dopants.
2. Heat exchanging components with a high degree of manufacturing flexibility.
3. Revolutionary systems with electricity adapted thermodynamic cycles.

Consortium and Integration

CNR and DLR will integrate the key findings in their high-TRL project portfolio, and Cellcius (CEL) will integrate the successful materials and designs in their technology. This will unlock the potential for thermal energy storage.

Collaborative Efforts

For this purpose, a strong consortium has been built, which brings together:

• Computational material scientists (VUB)
• Physical chemists (TUE, CIIAE)
• Mechanical engineers (CNR, DLR)
• Heat battery developer (CEL)