I-UPS aims to develop and validate a first-of-a-kind (FOAK), cost effective and reliable high-temperature industrial heat pump fully integrated in a flexible energy system for industrial medium temperature (~400°C) heat decarbonisation. I-UPS validate up to TRL 5 a first-of-a-kind high temperature heat pump (HTHP), based on Stirling cycles and exploiting a non-toxic, inert, zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP) fluid, able to deliver decarbonized heat up to 400°C. I-UPS provides also a seamless integration of the developed high temperature heat pump in flexible energy systems including molten salts based thermal energy storage (TES) for on-demand decarbonized industrial heat based on RES electricity.
In doing so, I-UPS addresses key technological challenges to enable:
1. The development of a FOAK, reliable, affordable, modular, and efficient high temperature (~400°C) heat pump with minimal environmental impact associated to the working fluid (inert, 0 GWP and 0 ODP) and to the full life cycle of the equipment, also including its operation in the industrial context and its end-of life management focusing on the exploitation of inherently reusable or recyclable materials and subcomponents.
2. The development of optimized key enabling subcomponents (static and dynamic sealing units, integrated and compact heat exchangers) for efficient high temperature heat pumps to be seamlessly integrated in industrial contexts.
3. The optimization of heat pump operation, also facilitated by advanced dynamic control systems ensuring maximized flexibility, elevated demand response capabilities with quick load ramping, and optimal energy system integration providing flexibility and sector coupling. This targeted development, coupled with the flexible system integration proposed by I-UPS, largely contribute to reduce the strain on the power network and improve its resilience, key challenges in the near future with maximized electrification.
4. The deployment of comprehensive assessment tools and modelling suites to minimize the socioenvironmental impact of the proposed heat pump, and energy system integration, along its full life cycle in line with a cradle-to-grave approach and ensuring maximized circularity; whilst maximizing the techno-economic potential of the proposed solution validating the extensive benefits attainable with respect to commercial solutions.
