Next Generation Grid Scale Thermal Energy Storage Technologies (NexGen-TEST)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
The energy systems in both the UK and China face challenges of unprecedented proportions. In the UK, it is expected that the amount of electricity demand met by renewable generation in 2020 will be increased by an order of magnitude from the present levels. In the context of the targets proposed by the UK Climate Change Committee it is expected that the electricity sector would be almost entirely decarbonised by 2030 with significantly increased levels of electricity production and demand driven by electrification of heat and transport. In China, the government has promised to cut greenhouse gas emission per unit of gross domestic product by 40-45% by 2020 based on the 2005 level. This represents a significant challenge given that over 70% of its electricity is currently generated by coal-fired power plants. Energy storage has the potential to provide a solution towards these challenges.
Numerous energy storage technologies exist currently, including electrochemical (batteries, flow batteries and sodium sulphate batteries etc), mechanical (compressed air and pumped hydro etc), thermal (heat and cold), and electrical (supercapacitors). Among these storage technologies, thermal energy storage (TES) provides a unique approach for efficient and effective peak-shaving of electricity and heat demand, efficient use of low grade waste heat and renewable energy, low-cost high efficiency carbon capture, and distributed energy and backup energy systems. Despite the importance and huge potential, little has been done in the UK and China on TES for grid scale applications. This forms the main motivation for the proposed research. This proposed research aims to address, in an integrated manner, key scientific and technological challenges associated with TES for grid scale applications, covering TES materials, TES components, TES devices and integration. The specific objectives are:
(i) to develop novel TES materials, components and devices;
(ii) to understand relationships between TES material properties and TES component behaviour, and TES component behaviour and TES device performance;
(iii) to understand relationship between TES component behaviour and manufacturing process parameters, and
(iv) to investigate integration of TES devices with large scale CAES system, decentralized microgrid system, and solar thermal power generation system.
We bring together a multidisciplinary team of internationally leading thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers, and chemical and materials scientists with strong track records and complementary expertise needed for comprehensively addressing the TES challenges. This dynamic team comprises 15 leading academics from 4 universities (Beijing University of Technology, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham and University of Warwick, and 2 Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Institutes (Institute of Engineering Thermophysics and Institute of Process Engineering), and 7 industrial partners.
Numerous energy storage technologies exist currently, including electrochemical (batteries, flow batteries and sodium sulphate batteries etc), mechanical (compressed air and pumped hydro etc), thermal (heat and cold), and electrical (supercapacitors). Among these storage technologies, thermal energy storage (TES) provides a unique approach for efficient and effective peak-shaving of electricity and heat demand, efficient use of low grade waste heat and renewable energy, low-cost high efficiency carbon capture, and distributed energy and backup energy systems. Despite the importance and huge potential, little has been done in the UK and China on TES for grid scale applications. This forms the main motivation for the proposed research. This proposed research aims to address, in an integrated manner, key scientific and technological challenges associated with TES for grid scale applications, covering TES materials, TES components, TES devices and integration. The specific objectives are:
(i) to develop novel TES materials, components and devices;
(ii) to understand relationships between TES material properties and TES component behaviour, and TES component behaviour and TES device performance;
(iii) to understand relationship between TES component behaviour and manufacturing process parameters, and
(iv) to investigate integration of TES devices with large scale CAES system, decentralized microgrid system, and solar thermal power generation system.
We bring together a multidisciplinary team of internationally leading thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers, and chemical and materials scientists with strong track records and complementary expertise needed for comprehensively addressing the TES challenges. This dynamic team comprises 15 leading academics from 4 universities (Beijing University of Technology, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham and University of Warwick, and 2 Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Institutes (Institute of Engineering Thermophysics and Institute of Process Engineering), and 7 industrial partners.
Planned Impact
The beneficiaries of the NexGen-Test Programme include: (a) Government Agents (who will gain support to meet their medium and long term energy and environmental challenges, and obtain data for development and implementation of policies for energy storage technologies); (b) Industry Partners (who will be able to obtain state-of-the-art developments in thermal energy storage and associated areas, gain in-depth knowledge of formulation and fabrication of novel thermal energy storage materials, components, devices and integration, extend their portfolio of suppliers or customers' base through close interactions with other industrial partners during the project meetings and workshops, and gain more opportunities to take up thermal energy storage and associated technologies arising from the research programme); (c) Researchers at all levels involved in the programme (who will be able to gain opportunities to develop their career, publish research outcomes in leading journals with international authors and hence increase their exposure and competitiveness, and be engaged in the knowledge transfer and commercialization activities); and (d) Society (society will benefit from the programme with a potential to transform the energy industry through increasing efficiency, enhancing the security of supply, and accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy).
A dedicated project website will be established for (i) providing open access to progress reports and publications arising from the project, and general project information and key results for non-research community, (ii) advertising engagement activities, and (iii) hosting data gathered through the projects.
We will disseminate the project outcomes to academics, industrialists and the general public in the UK, China and the globe through leading international conferences and events. Our outputs will be published in an extensive range of learned journals.
We will make use of our project review meetings and workshops to engage our project partners. We will also offer bespoke presentations to other organisations as needs arise from the UK, China and globally. Discussions with industry partners will provide not only advices on the research directions, but also a reality check on our research outcomes in terms of technical and commercial viability.
We will proactively organise national and international conferences / meetings in energy storage and associated areas, and will extend our networking activities through close interactions with other relevant programmes such as UK Supergens and Grand Challenge energy storage programmes, the China MOST 973, 863 and other 12th and future 13th Five-year research programmes, Chinese Academy of Sciences key energy research programmes, and other relevant international programmes (e.g. US DOE, German DLR, and current and future EU programmes).
We will work closely with technology transfer or equivalent offices of both the UK and Chinese partner institutions to protect IPRs arising from the project. The project management team will monitor the project progress and engage institutions' research support teams from early stage to maximise the opportunities.
We will put mechanisms in place to ensure that each member of the team benefits from the development of their career into new areas resulting in new publications, collaborations, exposure and skills. We shall pay specific attention to the training and career development of PDRAs, who will be assigned academic mentors, and encouraged to present their findings at the UK, China and international conferences, to interact closely with both academics and industrialists within and outside the consortium, and with UG, MSc and PhD students through project co-supervision, and to organise regular meetings to help them acquire leadership and management skills.
A dedicated project website will be established for (i) providing open access to progress reports and publications arising from the project, and general project information and key results for non-research community, (ii) advertising engagement activities, and (iii) hosting data gathered through the projects.
We will disseminate the project outcomes to academics, industrialists and the general public in the UK, China and the globe through leading international conferences and events. Our outputs will be published in an extensive range of learned journals.
We will make use of our project review meetings and workshops to engage our project partners. We will also offer bespoke presentations to other organisations as needs arise from the UK, China and globally. Discussions with industry partners will provide not only advices on the research directions, but also a reality check on our research outcomes in terms of technical and commercial viability.
We will proactively organise national and international conferences / meetings in energy storage and associated areas, and will extend our networking activities through close interactions with other relevant programmes such as UK Supergens and Grand Challenge energy storage programmes, the China MOST 973, 863 and other 12th and future 13th Five-year research programmes, Chinese Academy of Sciences key energy research programmes, and other relevant international programmes (e.g. US DOE, German DLR, and current and future EU programmes).
We will work closely with technology transfer or equivalent offices of both the UK and Chinese partner institutions to protect IPRs arising from the project. The project management team will monitor the project progress and engage institutions' research support teams from early stage to maximise the opportunities.
We will put mechanisms in place to ensure that each member of the team benefits from the development of their career into new areas resulting in new publications, collaborations, exposure and skills. We shall pay specific attention to the training and career development of PDRAs, who will be assigned academic mentors, and encouraged to present their findings at the UK, China and international conferences, to interact closely with both academics and industrialists within and outside the consortium, and with UG, MSc and PhD students through project co-supervision, and to organise regular meetings to help them acquire leadership and management skills.
Organisations
- University of Birmingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- Nanjing Jinhe Energy Materials Co Ltd (Collaboration)
- Energetix PNU Power (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- CCm Technologies (Collaboration)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (Collaboration)
- Highview Power Storage (Collaboration)
- Royal Academy of Engineering (Collaboration)
- Institute of Mental Health (Collaboration)
- CRRC Corporation Limited (Collaboration)
- Inner Mongolia Power Group (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- China General Nuclear Power Group (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- China Recycling Energy Corporation (Project Partner)
- ESCN (Project Partner)
- Pnu Power (Project Partner)
- Gateway (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Highview Power Storage (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Chen Q
(2021)
Influence of Vacancy Defect of Calcium Oxide Surface on the Wettability of Molten Alkali Metal Salt in Calcium Looping Process.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Chen Q
(2022)
Influence of Vacancy Defects of the Calcium Oxide Surface on the Nonequilibrium Phase Transition of Alkali Metal Salts.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Lasfargues M
(2017)
In Situ Production of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in a Binary Molten Salt for Concentrated Solar Power Plant Applications.
in Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Lasfargues M
(2015)
Rheological Analysis of Binary Eutectic Mixture of Sodium and Potassium Nitrate and the Effect of Low Concentration CuO Nanoparticle Addition to Its Viscosity.
in Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Lasfargues M
(2015)
Mechanical Dispersion of Nanoparticles and Its Effect on the Specific Heat Capacity of Impure Binary Nitrate Salt Mixtures.
in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Li Y
(2014)
Wide spectrum solar energy harvesting through an integrated photovoltaic and thermoelectric system
in Particuology
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Ge Z
(2014)
Carbonate-salt-based composite materials for medium- and high-temperature thermal energy storage
in Particuology
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Ge Z
(2014)
Thermal energy storage: Challenges and the role of particle technology
in Particuology
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Ye F
(2014)
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes added to Na2CO3/MgO composites for thermal energy storage
in Particuology
Description | This project contributed to the discovery of the mechanisms by molecular modelling, that the addition of nanoparticles into salts could increase heat capacity of the salts by up to ~30%, leading to an increased heat storage density, a reduced cost and space requirement. The modelling results have been validated by extensive experimental measurements. The considerable enhancement of heat capacity in salt system is opposite to the observations in aqueous systems and also disagrees with conventional mixing rules for the calculation of heat capacity of mixtures. The main reason is due to the increased potential energy at the atomic scale close to the salt-nano-particle interface, leading to increased energy storage there. This discovery is substantial and resolves various disputes over conflicting experimental observations. The project has made significant contributions in linking the material's properties at the molecular scale to the system level performance through the use of multiscale and multiphase modelling methods validated by experiments. This in turn increased substantially our integration capabilities. The project has made significant contributions to the development of methods for manufacturing composite phase change materials for different temperatures (from ~100 to ~750oC) at scale (~ up to 2-5 tons per day currently). The project has led to the filing of at least three patents [CN201410069073.6: A large scale energy storage based heat exchanger for medium and high temperature applications, 2014; GB1516599.6: Compressed Air Energy Storage system uses high grade thermal energy store to increase exergy storage capacity, 2015; GB1521372.1: Compressed Air Energy Storage system exploits low grade heat capture to increase exergy output, 2015.]. The project has contributed to over 40 technical publications and 5 book chapters in the area. Through the project, we initiated the UK Thermal Energy Storage Workshop with the 1st workshop held in Birmingham over two days in June 2015 with over 70 participants. Following this event the 2nd UK Thermal Energy Storage Workshop was held in London 2016 presenting the last achievements of this projects regarding on materials, devices and systems. We also initiated the UK-China Thermal Energy Storage Forum with the 1st and 2nd Forums were held in June and December 2015 respectively, in the UK and China. This series of UK-China workshop has changed to UK-China Clean Energy Symposium since 2016 and four symposia have been successfully held in China and UK between 2016 and 2019. The project has made significant contributions to the establishment and reputation build-up of Birmingham Centre of Thermal Energy Storage, which has now gained international attention in Europe, USA, Australia, Singapore, India, China and Japan, as reflected by various newspapers articles and media interviews, increased numbers of visitors from these countries and also funding from overseas companies. The project has contributed to the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA)- a government funded £60m initiative with ~£20M in thermal energy. The project has contributed to the establishment of Joint Lab on Energy Storage between the University of Birmingham and Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute EU (GEIRIEU) of the SGCC in 2016, which has led to 7 projects from the company. This project has contributed to the roadmap of energy storage developed and published by EERA and the roadmap being developed by the Energy Storage Supergen Hub. The roadmap, available online entitled UK Research Needs in Grid Scale Energy, provides a concise guide to key technology options for grid scale energy storage, with the aim of informing stakeholders in industry, government and the funding agencies of the opportunities and need for underpinning research into both current and emerging technologies for grid scale storage applications. We have been actively engaged in the LCICG - Smart Grid and Storage consultation process and have participated in various FCO organised missions to strategically important countries. The project has also contributed to a white paper on grid scale energy storage to be published shortly by a consortium led by Imperial College London. The project has led to three IChemE global awards in three categories of Research Project, Energy and Outstanding Achievement in 2019, and Clean Energy Medal in 2021. |
Exploitation Route | We have been able to follow the pathways to impact identified in the original statement. The outcomes are being taken forward by various beneficiaries including government, industry, people and society. The details are summarised in the next section. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Construction,Education,Energy,Environment,Transport |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/research/international/ukri-international-offices/ukri-china |
Description | One of the formulation has been commercially used; see https://www.ukri.org/research/international/ukri-international-offices/ukri-china/ Another formulation is being further explored by AMP; see https://www.ampcleanenergy.com/news/amp-clean-energy-and-the-university-of-birmingham-to-develop-ground-breaking-heat-storage-solution. Several other formulations are being explored by Vital Energi; see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/longer-duration-energy-storage-demonstration-programme-successful-projects/longer-duration-energy-storage-demonstration-programme-stream-2-phase-1-details-of-successful-projects |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Chemicals,Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | The Royal Society Briefing Note for COP26 - CLIMATE CHANGE : SCIENCE AND SOLUTIONS: Low-carbon heating and cooling: overcoming one of world's most important net zero challenges |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | A multi-scale, high-resolution, tri-beam facility for fast machining and 3D characterisation |
Amount | £1,970,212 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T031379/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | A new high-temperature carbon- based anticorrosive coating material |
Amount | £468,711 (GBP) |
Organisation | Baowu Steel |
Sector | Private |
Country | China |
Start | 05/2021 |
End | 04/2023 |
Description | Abengoa Solar |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Leeds-IPSE483360 |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | Abengoa Solar NT |
Amount | £22,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Abengoa - TOK - Leeds |
Organisation | Abengoa |
Department | Abengoa Solar |
Sector | Private |
Country | Spain |
Start | 05/2010 |
End | 05/2011 |
Description | DEcarbonisation of Low TemperAture Process Heat Industry, DELTA PHI |
Amount | £2,004,075 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T022981/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | Development of an in-situ characterisation facility for both proton and neutron irradiation |
Amount | £1,296,308 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V035649/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2021 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | Dissolution of structured particles |
Amount | £95,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2014 |
End | 10/2018 |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant |
Amount | £4,227,886 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P00945X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 11/2021 |
Description | EPSRC Programme Grant |
Amount | £5,590,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K002252/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2012 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | Ebergy Storage Capital Equipment related call |
Amount | £4,013,527 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/N032888/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Electro-Intrusion - Simultaneous transformation of ambient heat and undesired vibrations into electricity via nanotriboelectrification during non-wetting liquid intrusion-extrusion into-from nanopores |
Amount | € 3,651,381 (EUR) |
Funding ID | FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020 |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | Energy Stoage Grand Challenge |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | External collaboration grants |
Amount | £430,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 1 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | External collaborative research |
Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SGRI Project No 2 |
Organisation | State Grid Corporation of China |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 12/2015 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | External research grant |
Amount | £470,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | CRRC Project No 1 |
Organisation | CRRC Corporation Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | China |
Start | 10/2015 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | Heat transfer under supercritical conditions |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Air Products |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2015 |
End | 01/2018 |
Description | Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) |
Amount | £19,903,412 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V027050/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2021 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | PCM based Thermal management of battery systems |
Amount | £26,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute Europe GmbH |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 02/2018 |
End | 01/2022 |
Description | Reduce of End Use Energy Demand |
Amount | £1,573,522 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P004709/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2016 |
End | 12/2020 |
Description | Research on high temperature thermal energy storage device with high effective storage densities for flexible heat supply |
Amount | £208,333 (GBP) |
Organisation | Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute Europe GmbH |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 08/2020 |
End | 01/2023 |
Description | Salt Science - Physical Properties |
Amount | £164,874 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NNL/NIP/031 - Lot 3 |
Organisation | National Nuclear Laboratory |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Salt Science - Salt Handling |
Amount | £239,667 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NNL/NIP/031 - Lot 4 |
Organisation | National Nuclear Laboratory |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2020 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation |
Amount | £92,500 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Corex - understanding |
Organisation | Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | Supergen Storage Network Plus 2019 |
Amount | £1,012,009 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S032622/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | UK-China Workshop on Renewable Energy and Latent Heat Storage Integration for Buildings |
Amount | £24,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2019-RLWK11-10724 |
Organisation | British Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | UK-Indian Collaboration |
Amount | £5,094,437 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003605/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Utilising Composite Phase Change Materials |
Amount | £131,124 (GBP) |
Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2021 |
End | 05/2022 |
Description | n-COSH |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | nano-Structured PCM Composites for Compact Space Heating: n-CoSH |
Amount | £924,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P003435/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 10/2021 |
Description | CCM Technologies |
Organisation | CCm Technologies |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Industrial research on energy storage and power generation |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding for research and guidance for applications |
Impact | Confidential so cannot report here |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | CRRC |
Organisation | CRRC Corporation Limited |
Country | China |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Development of next generation air-conditioning technology based on thermal energy storage for train carriages |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of application conditions and funding |
Impact | Results not allowed to report before the project is completed - will report in the future. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | China General Nuclear Power Group |
Organisation | China General Nuclear Power Group |
Country | China |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Advice on the integration of TES with nuclear power plants |
Collaborator Contribution | Advising them possible route for peak shaving of nuclear power plants using TES technology |
Impact | Reported in NexGen-TEST programme |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | China Recycling Energy Corporation |
Organisation | Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The work provide guidance to the company in shaping their strategy for future R&D and product development in energy storage and related areas |
Collaborator Contribution | Provide guidance in terms integration of TES with industrial processes |
Impact | Reported in NexGen-TES project |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Composite PCM production and demonstration |
Organisation | Nanjing Jinhe Energy Materials Co Ltd |
Country | China |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have helped with the process design of the world first large scale commercial demonstration plant using composite phase change materials for the use of the curtailed wind power. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partner has helped us in the development of our materials for engineering applications. We have also be able to access their facilities for measuring our materials properties. |
Impact | The collaboration has led to a new collaborative project funded by Innovate UK and Jiangsu Provincial Government. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | ESCN Inner Mongolia Power Group |
Organisation | Inner Mongolia Power Group |
Country | China |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The outcome of the research provide guidance to the company in forming their strategy in energy storage area |
Collaborator Contribution | They have helped advising from application perspective particularly integration of thermal energy storage with power grids |
Impact | This has been reported in NexGen-TEST programme. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | EU Project StoRIES |
Organisation | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a consortium led by KIT with many other partners |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding via the EU project, access to expertise and facilities on energy storage |
Impact | Various workshops, infrastructure call, funding for infrastructure etc |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Highview Power Storage - RAEng Industrial Research Chair in Cryogenic Energy Storage |
Organisation | Highview Power Storage |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I am the industrial chair holder, working specifically on cryogenic energy storage, from materials to process integration. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provide finanical support to the project, offering advice and creating networking opportunities. |
Impact | This has provided opportunities to interact with industrial partners, which have been reported in other sections |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Highview Power Storage - RAEng Industrial Research Chair in Cryogenic Energy Storage |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | I am the industrial chair holder, working specifically on cryogenic energy storage, from materials to process integration. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provide finanical support to the project, offering advice and creating networking opportunities. |
Impact | This has provided opportunities to interact with industrial partners, which have been reported in other sections |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Pnu Power |
Organisation | Energetix PNU Power |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This is done through collaboration in a project on next generation thermal energy storage technologies |
Collaborator Contribution | They help advise the work on compressed air energy storage area with integrated thermal energy storage |
Impact | It is reported in another project. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | University of Nottingham |
Organisation | Institute of Mental Health |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Part of a collaborative project in thermal energy storage |
Collaborator Contribution | Contribute to the knowledge in coupling mechanical and thermal energy storage |
Impact | Reported in NexGen-TEST programme |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | University of Warwick |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Department | Department of History |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The use of thermal energy storage in compressed air energy storage |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing integration conditions |
Impact | Reported in NexGen-TEST programme |
Start Year | 2014 |
Title | Composite thermochemical energy storage materials - formulation and manufacturing |
Description | Aimed to address performance, life-span of the type of materials - it is as a result of 5 years of development, learned for particle technology and energy storage |
IP Reference | GB2202958.1 |
Protection | Patent / Patent application |
Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | Disclosed a method to formulate and manufacture composite thermochemical energy storage materials |
Title | ENERGY GENERATION |
Description | A method of converting thermal energy to electrical energy, the method comprising the steps of harvesting thermal energy from a source;using the thermal energy to drive one or more chemical reactions;using one or more reaction products of the one or more chemical reactions to drive an electrochemical cell to produce electrical energy. |
IP Reference | WO2019158948 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | Considerable commercial interest and further R&D projects |
Title | VEHICLE CHARGING |
Description | Disclosed is a vehicle charging station (1) comprising a first reservoir (5) arranged to contain a first charging fluid and a charging fluid delivery system (3) arranged to deliver at least part of the first charging fluid (5) into a heat exchange relationship with a vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) of a vehicle (100) selectively connected to the vehicle charging station (1), thereby charging the vehicle thermal energy storage material (108) by changing its temperature and/or phase and/or chemistry. |
IP Reference | WO2019162680 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | Significant interest from commercial companies; leading to several subsequent research and development projects |
Company Name | KELVIN THERMOTECH LTD |
Description | It is set for holding Ups related to cold storage, cold chain technologies, thermal energy storage, consulting. |
Year Established | 2019 |
Impact | Just started, to be updated next year |
Description | 22nd international conference on automation and computing, UK. (SCI) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Nie, XK; Wang, JH; Kiselychnyk, O; Chen, J, Modelling of One-dimensional Noisy Dynamical Systems with a Frobenius-Perron Solution,2016 22nd international conference on automation and computing, UK. (SCI) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | China Energy Network Conference & Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | China Energy Network Conference & Exhibition |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | EECOS 2016, 29th international on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy storage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Adriano Sciacovelli, Daniel Smith, Helena Navarro, Yongliang Li, Yulong Ding, Liquid air energy storage - Operation and performance of the first pilot plant in the world, Proceedings of ECOS 2016, 29th international on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy storage, 19-23 June 2016, Portoroz, Solevenia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | EECOS 2016, 29th international on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy storage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Sciacovelli A, Li Y, Ding Y. Adiabatic compressed air energy storage - a study on dynamic performance with thermal energy storage. Proceedings of ECOS 2016, 29th international on efficiency, cost, optimization, simulation and environmental impact of energy storage, 19-23 June 2016, Portoroz, Solevenia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | EPSRC blog & UKRI filming |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The blog and UKRI film generated significant impact, with over 10 industrial companies coming to Birmingham seeking for collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://epsrc.ukri.org/blog/the-renewables-conundrum/ |
Description | EPSRC-NSFC Powering the Future Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | EPSRC-NSFC Powering the Future Event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Energy Future Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Energy Future Conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | HEFAT 12th Int. Conf. Heat Transf. Fluid Mech. Thermodyn., 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Shere L, Trivedi S, Roberts S, Sciacovelli A, Ding Y. SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THERMOCHEMICAL STORAGE MATERIAL COMBINING POROUS ZEOLITE AND INORGANIC SALTS. HEFAT 12th Int. Conf. Heat Transf. Fluid Mech. Thermodyn., 2016, p. 188-91 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | HEFAT 12th Int. Conf. Heat Transf. Fluid Mech. Thermodyn., 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Navarro M. E. *, Andreu P., Qiao G. and Ding Y., Thermal properties of a novel Medium Temperature Thermal Energy Storage composite based on sodium nitrate as Phase Change Material. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | IEA Task 36 - Carnot Batteries |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | This is an international Energy Agent activities, I led of the Sub-tasks, leading to a report to be submitted this month. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
URL | https://www.eces-a36.org/ |
Description | Joint Centre with Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Formation of a joint Centre with Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences on physical energy storage research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | National Energy Storage Conference, |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | China National Energy Storage Conference, Shenzhen, October 22-25, 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | National University of Singapore |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | National University of Singapore |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Offshore Energy and Storage Symposium and Industry Connector Event (OSES), 2016, Malta. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | He W, Wang JH. Dynamic modelling of discharge behaviour of a low temperature adiabatic compressed air energy storage system, Offshore Energy and Storage Symposium and Industry Connector Event (OSES), 2016, Malta. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK Trade mission to Japan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | UK Trade mission to Japan |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK thermal energy storage (UKTES) 2016, London. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | He W, Wang JH. Dynamic modelling of adiabatic compressed air energy storage using packed bed thermal energy storage, UK thermal energy storage (UKTES) 2016, London. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK-China Energy Storage Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The workshop is to bring together academia, industrialists, policymakers, NGOs and government officials between UK and China, building close links for future collaborations, and trading relationships. Over 100 participants attended. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | UK-China Workshop on Clean Energy Utilisation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | This is for building close and sustainable collaborations between UK and Chinese early career researchers working on clean energy generation, storage and utilisation. Over 70 people attended. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | UK-China thermal energy storage forum 2015, Beijing University of Technology. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | He W. Selection of expansion machines in compressed air energy storage system (CAES) and feasibility study of integration of CAES with thermal driven desalination, UK-China thermal energy storage forum 2015, Beijing University of Technology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Nie, XK, J Chen, Kiselychnyk, O, Wang, J, Capacity Optimisation and Control of Energy Storage in Power Networks, UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | M. E. Navarro, G. Leng, C. Li and Y. Ding, Thermal properties of a novel sodium-nitrate based composite phase change material for medium temperature energy storage applications. UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | He W, Wang JH. Exergy and energy analysis of adiabatic compressed air energy storage, UK-China thermal energy storage forum, 2016, Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Visits to Universities of Queensland, Adelaide, Melbourne and New South Wales, Australia, June-July 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Visits to Universities of Queensland, Adelaide, Melbourne and New South Wales, Australia, June-July 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |