Waste Heat to Energy

Project Information

WH2E

Grant agreement ID: 101097661

DOI

10.3030/101097661

EC signature date 26 October 2022

Start date 1 December 2022

End date 31 October 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 2 636 625,00

EU contribution

€ 2 499 999,00

Coordinated by

SWEETCH ENERGY
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WH2E (Waste Heat to Energy)

Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In industrial processes and natural settings energy is dissipated under the form of heat. Most of this energy is dissipated under the form of low-grade waste heat (<100 °C). This constitutes the largest source with an annual 3700Mtoe, corresponding to 63% of the recoverable heat. Despite a huge potential (~40.000 Twh/year, representing 1.5 times the current global demand), low grade waste heat remains a relatively untapped source of energy to produce electricity, due to its poor grade, and the difficulties to harness it in various industrial domains, environments, and contexts. However, harvesting a part such amount of energy is expected to significantly contribute to the environmental impact mitigation of energy intensive industries (chemistry, energy, food processing industry, AI and data centers…). The WH2E project aims at demonstrating the technical feasibility of a new waste heat harvesting solution able to convert low grade heat to electricity.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project aims at selecting the appropriate materials to test the WH2E technical components and modules they are included in, at the laboratory scale. This includes testing the temperature range of operation, measuring the produced electrical energy, and monitoring the continuous closed loop operation of the system. In a second phase the findings regarding the choice of the appropriate components will be tested for upscaling of the technology to the pilot’s scale and in industrial conditions.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The laboratory results show promising values for the conversion of heat <90°C to electricity during the screening tests of the components. These results are expected to allow for the development of a new kind of energy recovery devices able to harvest low-grade heat in industrial or natural settings. The laboratories’ findings are promising, and needs for specific test equipment’s at the pilot scale will be anticipated for optimization and upscaling. At this time patents’ applications will be filled. Collaboration with potential industrial partners is in discussion. To further optimize the system, the need for the development of new components withstanding heat conditions at lower cost is under evaluation.