EINDHOVEN - The European Commission has granted a subsidy of 7 million euros for the further development of the heat battery of TNO and TU Eindhoven. A European consortium, led by both knowledge institutes, will use the subsidy to accelerate the development of the heat battery to create a device suitable for use in the home.
The heat battery makes it possible to store energy efficiently so that it is also available on windy and cloudy days. The system works with water vapour and a salt hydrate. When these are brought together, the water binds to the salt, creating salt crystals. During this process, heat is released. By bringing heat into the system, water and salt are separated again. As long as water and salt are separated, the energy is stored. The heat battery works stably and without loss of energy and, if used correctly, will last for at least 20 years.
Simplicity of principle
According to Olaf Adan, working at TNO and TU/e and project leader of the consortium, the simplicity of the principle that an affordable device can be made for use in the home. "The subsidy granted will enable us to speed up the development of a heat battery the size of a refrigerator. Moreover, it costs less than electrical storage systems, while its performance is better. With the stored heat, a family can take a hot shower for two weeks."
The device must also connect seamlessly to the electricity grid, heat networks and heat pumps and solar panels. Adan and his team want to involve users in the development. "In more than two years' time, we want to equip at least two rental and two owner-occupied homes in Eindhoven with the device. In addition, we are also going to carry out trial runs in homes in Nice in France and in Gdansk in Poland. In this way, we want to gain experience from various situations in the field of climate, housing and culture in order to refine the appliance even further".
In addition to TNO, TU Eindhoven, materials manufacturer Caldic, the municipality of Eindhoven and housing corporation Trudo, the consortium also includes international partners from Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
Original article:
https://www.ed.nl/economie/eu-subsidie-van-7-miljoen-voor-ontwikkeling-warmtebatterij-tno-en-tu-e~abed5612/