Waste Heat to Energy

Informations projet

WH2E

N° de convention de subvention: 101097661

DOI

10.3030/101097661

Date de signature de la CE 26 Octobre 2022

Date de début 1 Decembre 2022

Date de fin 31 Octobre 2026

Financé au titre de

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Coût total

€ 2 636 625,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 2 499 999,00

Coordonné par

SWEETCH ENERGY
France

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

Période du rapport: 2022-12-01 au 2024-10-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

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.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

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.