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Waste Heat to Energy

Project description

Converting low-grade waste heat into electric power

Low-grade waste heat (less than 100 °C) constitutes the greater heat source, corresponding to 63 % of the total recoverable heat. However, technical and economic difficulties prevent its wide exploitation. At the industrial level, only the valorisation of high- and medium-grade electricity is deployed. The EIC-funded WH2E project proposes an innovative way to convert low-grade waste heat into electric power. Sweetch Energy developed the Ionic Nano Osmotic Diffusion technology based on the most advanced nanotechnologies and specific membrane design. The solution includes two major steps: the temperature gradient conversion into salinity gradient using thermo-sensible ionic liquids, coupled with an osmotic engine to generate electric power as the final result.

Objective

To cope with the growing global energy consumption and sustainable development scenarios, Waste Heat Recovery is an efficient, green and economic solution to help highly demanding industries save valuable energy.

However, while low grade waste heat (<100) constitutes the largest source of heat with an annual 3700Mtoe, corresponding to 63% of the total recoverable heat, it has not been widely exploited yet due to technical and economical difficulties. Only valorisation of high and medium grade in the form of electricity is largely deployed at industrial scale.

In the WH2E project, Sweetch Energy is proposing an innovative way to convert low grade waste heat into electric power. To do so, two major steps will be necessary: the conversion of temperature gradient into salinity gradient using thermo-sensible ionic liquids, coupled with an osmotic engine (INOD) to generate electric power as final output. The INOD (Ionic Nano Osmotic Diffusion) technology, developped by Sweetch Energy, is based on the most advanced nanotechnologies and specific membrane design.

At the end of the project, a testing phase in partnership with an international industrial corporation will allow to reach a TRL6 and secure the market readiness. Sweetch Energy is targeting first the industrial sector and ambitions to become a global leader in the decarbonized electricity sector.

The project is supported by Veolia and Solvay.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01

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Coordinator

SWEETCH ENERGY
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 499 999,00
Address
6 BIS RUE DE LA LONGERAIE
35760 Saint Gregoire
France

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Bretagne Bretagne Ille-et-Vilaine
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 636 625,00
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