Summary

HERCULES introduces a novel breakthrough approach towards thermal energy storage of surplus renewable energy via a hybrid thermochemical/sensible heat storage with the aid of porous media made of refractory redox metal oxides and electrically powered heating elements. The heating elements use surplus/cheap renewable electricity (e.g. from PVs, wind, or other sources) to charge the metal oxide-based storage block by heating it to the metal oxide reduction temperature (i.e. charging/energy storage step) and subsequently (i.e. upon demand) the fully charged system transfers its energy to a controlled airflow that passes through the porous oxide block which initiated the oxidation of the reduced metal oxide. It is an exothermic process thus a hot air stream is produced during this step which can be used to provide exploitable heat for industrial processes. The proposed research will be conducted by an interdisciplinary consortium constituting leading research centers, universities, innovative SMEs, and large enterprises including ancillary service providers and technology end users.

HERCULES System

Work Plan

Work Packages

WP1: Redox oxide material development, optimization and porous structure synthesis

Objectives

To develop the computational tools that will support the material synthesis research in a rational approach.
To synthesize highly active, non-toxic, non-critical and recyclable redox powder materials with long-term, constant and reproducible cyclic redox operation and significant thermal effects under air flow.
To identify optimum operating conditions for both thermal reduction and oxidation steps.
To develop structured porous redox materials suitable for the storage operation.
To evaluate the redox materials cyclic performance

WP2: Storage material characterization and chemical kinetics modelling

Objectives

To determine the thermophysical properties of the synthesized redox material.
To determine the energy storage density of the developed redox material.
To evaluate the thermomechanical strength of the porous redox material structure.
To determine the chemical kinetics of the redox material within the expected operating range of the storage process.

WP3: Simulation and modeling of the storage module and its integration

Objectives

To determine the size and geometry of the thermochemical heat storage module best suitable for the prototype scale operation
To study the effect of pore-level coupled processes on the storage module operation.
To design a scale-up thermochemical heat storage module suitable for the investigated industrial processes.
To assess the energy and exergy efficiencies of the renewable energy integrated storage system incorporated within an industrial process.

WP 4: Component development- storage container, insulation, and resistive heating system

Objectives

To design and test a suitable container for high-temperature storage module for the expected operating conditions.
To develop and test low-thermal conductivity insulation for the storage module.
To develop and test a resistive heating system integrated with the container and the insulation.

WP 5: Storage module fabrication, testing and performance assessment

Objectives

To construct a modular reactor/heat exchanger made entirely or substantially of monolithic redox materials.
To build a proof-of-concept-scale unit capable of withstanding high-temperature operation.
To extensively test the performance of the thermochemical heat storage system for the expected operating conditions.
To assess the prototype’s long-term performance.

WP 6: Environmental, economic, and policy analysis of the proposed technology

Objectives

To evaluate the environmental performance of the proposed system and find out the hot-spot of the system from a life cycle perspective for a more sustainable process design.
To identify the environmental benefits and risks with the proposed system integration to industries (e.g. steel, chemical, recycling, etc.) during operation phase in comparison to the conventional heat system.
To evaluate the techno-economic performance of the technology under future energy price and policy scenarios and identify favorable market characteristics for commercialization of the technology.
To investigate regulatory frameworks for the integration of the technology within existing and future energy systems and for further development and commercialization.
To consolidate the findings in LCA, techno-economic, and regulatory framework assessment and make recommendation to develop a sustainable roadmap for the proposed system.

WP 7: Knowledge dissemination, communication, and European innovation base development

Objectives

To effectively coordinate the project’s technical activities, Tasks and Work packages.
To provide for visible dissemination of the project’s results and maximize its impact to the most wide and relevant audience.
To define the best way of exploiting the project’s results.
To integrate the know-how among the partners’ laboratories.
To educate and train young researchers.

WP 8: Project Management

Objectives

To ensure effective and efficient coordination and progress monitoring.
To facilitate and create proper and effective communication and collaboration between all project partners and specifically with the European Commission.
To prepare, coordinate and monitor project activities and reporting tasks.
To assure proper risk management through monitoring, reporting and mitigating the status and risks of the project to be able to make corrective actions if necessary.
To create quality management procedures to ensure the quality of all deliverables, reports and external communication.
To ensure solid data management according to the FAIR principles and the GDPR.