Heat Accumulation from Renewables with Valid Energy Storage and Transformation - HARVEST
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
The Committee on Climate Change suggests that we need to decarbonise all heat in buildings by 2050 to achieve the Net Zero emissions targets. The electrification of heat supply, through either direct electric heating or heat pumps, seems more likely to be realised in practice. However, the complete electrification of heat will result in much higher electricity demand in winter than in summer. Furthermore, due to the consistency of ambient temperature, it will also lead to electricity demand spikiness which is a big challenge for the grid.
The HARVEST project will develop a new solution that can absorb and accumulate the curtailed/waste renewable electricity all around the year using thermochemical heat storage technology and then convert and magnify the heat output in winter and cooling output in summer using heat pump technology. The unique features of the proposed solution are: (1) the microwave-assisted process to flexibly absorb renewable electricity; and (2) the compact and efficient regeneration process by direct contact reaction between thermochemical heat storage materials and ammonia solution. We have established a strong multidisciplinary consortium, consisting of leading researchers from the University of Birmingham, the University of Edinburgh, and the University College London, to address the key challenges in both the scientific/technological aspects and social aspects. Our research will significantly contribute to several identified approaches in the 'Decarbonising Heating and Cooling 2' call document, in particular, the 'new technologies of heating and/or cooling' and 'new methods or significant developments for heat storage or cold storage'. Our research is also further supported by the UK and international partners to maximise knowledge exchange and impact delivery.
The HARVEST project will develop a new solution that can absorb and accumulate the curtailed/waste renewable electricity all around the year using thermochemical heat storage technology and then convert and magnify the heat output in winter and cooling output in summer using heat pump technology. The unique features of the proposed solution are: (1) the microwave-assisted process to flexibly absorb renewable electricity; and (2) the compact and efficient regeneration process by direct contact reaction between thermochemical heat storage materials and ammonia solution. We have established a strong multidisciplinary consortium, consisting of leading researchers from the University of Birmingham, the University of Edinburgh, and the University College London, to address the key challenges in both the scientific/technological aspects and social aspects. Our research will significantly contribute to several identified approaches in the 'Decarbonising Heating and Cooling 2' call document, in particular, the 'new technologies of heating and/or cooling' and 'new methods or significant developments for heat storage or cold storage'. Our research is also further supported by the UK and international partners to maximise knowledge exchange and impact delivery.
Publications
Wang Y
(2022)
Heat Transfer of Near Pseudocritical Nitrogen in Helically Coiled Tube for Cryogenic Energy Storage
in Energies
Yu J
(2023)
Effect of ionic radius and valence state of alkali and alkaline earth metals on promoting the catalytic performance of La2O3 catalysts for glycerol carbonate production
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Sun X
(2023)
The carbon border adjustment mechanism is inefficient in addressing carbon leakage and results in unfair welfare losses
in Fundamental Research
Lu G
(2023)
Development of novel AMP-based absorbents for efficient CO2 capture with low energy consumption through modifying the electrostatic potential
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Wang K
(2023)
DRIFTS-SSITKA-MS investigations on the mechanism of plasmon preferentially enhanced CO2 hydrogenation over Au/?-Al2O3
in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Description | (CO-COOL) - Collaborative development of renewable/thermally driven and storage-integrated cooling technologies |
Amount | € 892,400 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 101007976 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 06/2021 |
End | 05/2025 |
Description | Research on Hydroxide-Based Thermochemical Energy Storage Technology |
Amount | € 329,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute Europe GmbH |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 12/2022 |
End | 11/2024 |
Description | Energy Sub-Alliance in University Alliance of the Silk Road (ESA-UASR) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited as a Plenary Speaker to deliver a lecture entitled 'Microencapsulation of phase change materials for cold energy storage applications'. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | International Summer School Lecture - Shandong University, China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | guest lecture entitled: Phase change based Thermal Energy Storage and applications |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | MSc module - Sustainable Cooling and the Cold Chain |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Give a guest lecture entitled: Overview of technologies for sustainable cooling and the cold chain |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Presentation at the Supergen cross-hub workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | 20 early career researchers attended to discuss the potential collaborations cross the three supergen research hubs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |