• Energy Research

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.

The Sun-to-X project will contribute to European Commission targets for clean energy for all and circular economy by developing a system for the conversion of solar energy into storable chemical fuel. While the concept of solar-to-chemical fuels has been around for decades, the technology has been limited by the economic viability and scalability of the technology. The Sun-to-X project focuses on using solar energy to produce a carbon-free, non-toxic, energy-dense, liquid fuel - Hydrosil, with very good long-term stability, which is applicable in the transport and energy sectors. We will firstly produce hydrogen as chemical intermediate through a photoelectrochemical device. This will then be converted to Hydrosil through a thermochemical reaction. The novelty of our proposal lies in the following three key aspects: 1. Overcoming the known practical challenges of high-performance photoelectrochemical fuel production by using membrane photoelectrode assemblies which can operate with solar energy using only ambient humidity as the water supply 2. Developing reactors for and demonstrating the renewable production of Hydrosil for the first time, using a thermochemical process (using concentrated solar light) 3. Demonstrating a completely decarbonised energy cycle with liquid fuels In addition, we will demonstrate the applicability of Hydrosil towards the transition to a circular economy, by using it for the valorisation of waste plastics.

1st year is the PG Diploma and research and Industry preparation Years 2-4 are a PhD at one of the CDT universities

Awaiting Public Project Summary

SDHp2m stands for ‘Solar District Heating (SDH)’ and actions from ‘Policy to Market’. The project addresses market uptake challenges for a wider use of district heating and cooling systems (DHC) with high shares of RES, specifically the action focuses on the use of large-scale solar thermal plants combined with other RES in DHC systems. The key approach of the project is to develop, improve and implement in 9 participating EU regions advanced policies and support measures for SDH. In 3 focus regions Thuringia (DE), Styria (AT) and Rhone-Alpes (FR) the regulating regional authorities are participating as project partners to ensure a strong implementation capacity within the project. In 6 follower regions from BG, DE, IT, PL, SE the regulating authorities are engaged through letters of commitment. The project activities aim at a direct mobilization of investments in SDH and hence a significant market rollout. The project work program in the participating regions follows a process including 1) strategy and action planning based on a survey, best practices and stakeholder consultation 2) an implementation phase starting at an early project stage and 3) efficient dissemination of the project results at national and international level. Adressed market uptake challenges are: Improved RES DHC policy, better access to plant financing and business models, sustained public acceptance and bridging the gap between policy and market through market support and capacity building. Denmark and Sweden reached already today a high share of RES in DHC and shall be used as a role model for this project. The direct expected outcome and impact of SDHp2m is estimated to an installed or planned new RES DHC capacity and new SDH capacity directly triggered by the project until project end corresponding to a total investment of 350 Mio. € and leading to 1 420 GWh RES heat and cold production per year. A multiple effect is expected in the period after the project and in further EU regions.

This concept adds storage to a Concentrating Solar Power Dish System in a novel and modular way by direct illumination of the thermal store using an off-axis parabolic reflector. This proposal is for Academic/Academic Knowledge Exchange from the Astronomy domain to the Energy domain. Background There is an enormous (20PWh p.a.) market globally for electricity generation Climate change concerns and increasing oil prices have lead to a rapid increase in the demand for renewable energy, including solar. This technology has several novel features and the proposed project will explore the configuration necessary for these features to confer the greatest competitive advantage. The thermal generation of electricity by concentration of solar radiation is a highly efficient method of power generation but is obviously limited to daylight hours. This concept, with an appropriate configuration, has the potential to beat the competition in several power generation application areas, especially off-grid. Thermal (as opposed to photovoltaic) generation of electricity by concentration of solar radiation has three configurations that are in use or being developed: * Heliostat * Parabolic Troughs: * Dish Collector with a Stirling Engine Thus far a configuration has not been designed which achieves the high concentration ratios and operating temperatures of a dish system in combination with an energy store so that electricity can be produced according to demand rather than simply during daylight hours. Drawing on their extensive experience of optical, thermal and systems engineering the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC) have developed this concept, which adds storage to a dish system in a novel and modular way by using direct illumination of the thermal store using an off-axis parabolic reflector. Uniquely, this removes the need for pipe work and heat transfer fluids in a trough system while retaining the high concentration ratio of a dish system; thus taking advantage of the positive aspects of two existing technologies. Technical Concept The proposed approach is to cut out the middleman (heat transfer fluids & heat exchangers) by directly illuminating a thermal store thus increasing overall system efficiency. This is done with an off-axis fixed focus reflector inspired by astronomical off-axis systems such as the Bell Labs Horn Antenna which was used to discover the microwave background. The reflector and storage co-rotate on an azimuth track while the reflector follows the sun in elevation throughout each day.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.