PATCH: Plasma Assisted Thermo-CHemical energy storage for Carnot batteries
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
Renewable energy generation as well as the electrification of both transportation (via electric vehicles) and space heating (via heat pumps) are regarded as the key enablers to achieve a net-zero circular economy by 2050. The Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan (November 2020) has set an ambition to grow the installation of electric heat pumps from 30,000 per year to 600,000 per year by 2028. However, the radical and complete replacement of fossil fuels (mainly natural gas for the UK) with renewable for heating will lead to significant 'capability wastes': (1) up to 150GW renewable electricity generation capacity will be mostly idle in other seasons rather than winter if superabundant renewable generation capacity was installation without inter-seasonal storage; (2) about 44GW conventional heat-to-power electricity generation capacity as well as the related infrastructure would be 'wasted' due to lack of carbon-free fuels. The 'waste' heat-to-power generation capacity is sufficient to meet the UK's electricity generation for heating in winters, considering their much higher load factor than renewable generation.
One promising approach to tackle these challenges is the so-called 'Carnot Battery' technology, which is a grid-scale system primarily used to store electric energy with three key processes: transforming electricity into heat, storing the heat in inexpensive storage media, and then transforming the heat back to electricity when required. The 'Carnot Battery' is regarded as an emerging technology for the inexpensive and site-independent storage of electrical energy by turning the conventional power plants into grid-scale energy storage plants. However, current R&D efforts using this technology adopt either sensible thermal storage or latent heat storage and therefore are only suitable for short duration applications (e.g., daily/weekly energy management) due to unavoidable self-discharge (heat loss/dissipation).
The overall aim of this project is to develop a novel and cost-effective metal oxides redox based thermochemical heat storage technology through the recovery of metallic material wastes, which enables the flexible capture of waste renewable electricity, as well as the timely power generation using otherwise retired thermal power plants. The whole process can realise the concept of 'Carnot Batteries' which could provide both short-term balancing and long-term inter-seasonal services to the grid.
One promising approach to tackle these challenges is the so-called 'Carnot Battery' technology, which is a grid-scale system primarily used to store electric energy with three key processes: transforming electricity into heat, storing the heat in inexpensive storage media, and then transforming the heat back to electricity when required. The 'Carnot Battery' is regarded as an emerging technology for the inexpensive and site-independent storage of electrical energy by turning the conventional power plants into grid-scale energy storage plants. However, current R&D efforts using this technology adopt either sensible thermal storage or latent heat storage and therefore are only suitable for short duration applications (e.g., daily/weekly energy management) due to unavoidable self-discharge (heat loss/dissipation).
The overall aim of this project is to develop a novel and cost-effective metal oxides redox based thermochemical heat storage technology through the recovery of metallic material wastes, which enables the flexible capture of waste renewable electricity, as well as the timely power generation using otherwise retired thermal power plants. The whole process can realise the concept of 'Carnot Batteries' which could provide both short-term balancing and long-term inter-seasonal services to the grid.
Organisations
- University of Birmingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- C-Tech Innovation (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Int Soc for Energy Transit Stud (ISETS) (Project Partner)
- German Aerospace Center (Project Partner)
- Scottish and Southern Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- GEIRI Europe (Project Partner)
- European Metal Recycling (EMR) (Project Partner)
- Bunting Magnetics Europe (UK) (Project Partner)
Publications
Chaomurilige
(2023)
Numerical Study of a High-Temperature Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Device with AlSi12 Alloy
in Energies
Borri E
(2022)
Phase Change Slurries for Cooling and Storage: An Overview of Research Trends and Gaps
in Energies
Wang Y
(2023)
Heat transfer characteristics of near-pseudocritical nitrogen in vertical small tubes-a new empirical correlation
in International Journal of Thermal Sciences
Liang T
(2023)
Liquid air energy storage technology: a comprehensive review of research, development and deployment
in Progress in Energy
Liang T
(2022)
Key components for Carnot Battery: Technology review, technical barriers and selection criteria
in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Widijatmoko S
(2024)
Recycling of enamelled copper wire from end-of-life electric motor via room temperature methanolysis
in Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Li W
(2022)
Heat transfer enhancement of twisted tape inserts in supercritical carbon dioxide flow conditions based on CFD and vortex kinematics
in Thermal Science and Engineering Progress