FesTES – Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Motivation
The heating sector is one of the largest contributors to global CO₂ emissions. To achieve decarbonization in this sector, the demand for heat must be reduced by further optimizing the utilization of waste heat. Additionally, the need for flexibility options, such as thermal energy storage systems, will rise significantly as the share of fluctuating renewable energy sources in the energy system continues to grow. Thermal energy storage systems can play a crucial role in providing heat efficiently and flexibly.
Latent heat storage systems offer a promising solution by enabling high energy densities at low temperature differentials. Typically, phase change materials (PCMs) with a solid/liquid phase transition are used for these systems. However, such systems face challenges such as volume expansion and corrosion, which limit their applicability.
The use of solid/solid phase transitions can address these issues, offering significantly lower corrosion rates and minimal volume changes. This, in turn, can reduce both investment and operational costs. While some research has been conducted on solid/solid phase change materials for high-temperature applications, it remains limited, and this project aims to further advance the development of storage technology. As the majority of industrial heat demand occurs at temperatures above 100°C, the project focuses on applications in the high-temperature range.
Objectives
The FesTES project aims to investigate and develop thermal storage systems based on solid/solid PCMs, thereby increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of this storage technology. The research is divided into three main aspects:
- Characterization of Storage Materials: Identifying suitable solid/solid PCM candidates and analyzing their properties, such as reaction kinetics, thermal stability, and heat transfer.
- Reactor Design and Demonstration: Developing and demonstrating an efficient reactor concept that ensures appropriate charging and discharging times as well as high efficiency.
- Techno-Economic Analysis: Evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of the storage system to identify its industrial application potential and facilitate market entry.
Through these research activities, new insights into material science, reactor development, and process integration will be gained to create sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions.
Funding
The FesTES project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under the grant number 03EN6026D.
Contact
Prject Partners
FZ Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Materials Structure and Properties (IEK-2)
GTT Gesellschaft für Technische Thermochemie und -physik mbH
Pebble Heater - Dr. Dragan Stevanovic - Engineering & Consulting