Sustainable energy generation through solar panels or wind turbines has a major disadvantage: no energy is generated on a cloudy day or when it is not windy. Sometimes, more than needed energy is produced. Τhe EU-funded HEAT-INSYDE project is addressing this through a groundbreaking compact heat battery.

The prototype will use a thermochemical material to store renewable energy in an inexpensive and lossless way. It will be able to connect to various energy systems, such as the electricity grid and heat networks, as well as in heat pumps and solar panels. Offering an alternative pathway for storing renewable energy, the new heat battery prototype delivers a new grid flexibility solution across the energy value chain.

HEAT-INSYDE advances a ground-breaking closed-loop concept using thermochemical material to a compact domestic heat storage prototype at a Technology Readiness Level of 7 through a user-centric approach with real-life demonstrations in 3 different European climate zones.

HEAT-INSYDE delivers an affordable, highly compact solution (< 1 m3) with robust, long term (> 25 years) performance. Its hybrid functionality combines compact storage with a highly efficient heat pump effect. The system balances central (grid) and decentral renewable energy supply, allowing configuration in both heat and electricity systems and creating new opportunities for grid flexibility.

The proposal is based on two recent technological breakthroughs. The first concerns a multicyclic stable thermochemical material with a high energy density that can be produced on(semi-)industrial scale at low costs. The second concerns a reactor principle patented by two partners TNO and TU/e that uses the full potential of the first-generation thermochemical material. The effective energy density on a system level surpasses the state-of-the art water storage solutions by a factor of at least 10.

The HEAT-INSYDE consortium is industry dominated and mobilizes all relevant stakeholders in the value chain: ranging from basic material production, material manipulation, reactor design and manufacturing, energy system integration to municipalities and real end-users.

The consortium includes the City of Eindhoven, bringing a large-scale pilot opportunity and a national funding multiplier. The knowledge base consists of TNO, CEA and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), all having an excellent track-record in thermal storage technologies and EU projects in this area.

Partners

• NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
• CALDIC NEDERLAND BV
• EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH
• VENTILAIRSEC
• COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
• GEMEENTE EINDHOVEN
• STICHTING SINT TRUDO
• PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO ROBOT ELEWACYJNYCHFASADA SP ZOO
• ACCELOPMENT SCHWEIZ AG
• BUREAUX D'ETUDES SOLAIRES SPRL
• BELGISCH LABORATORIUM VAN ELEKTRICITEITSINDUSTRIE
• ENGIE
• EVONIK FUNCTIONAL SOLUTIONS GMBH
• CELLCIUS BV
• TBRM-ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS BV
• TBRM PROTOSHOP BV

Start date: 1 October 2019 - End date: 31 March 2024

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 869810.