Project description
Overcoming limits in thermal energy storage solutions
Renewable energy solutions have seen significant increases in integration and adoption in recent years, greatly accelerating green and sustainability initiatives and supporting their goals. However, despite significant technological advancements, efficient thermal energy storage (TES) remains a key challenge for renewable energy, hindering efforts to achieve deeper integration of renewables. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SHAPE-X project will develop an innovative in situ, in operando 4D X-ray computed tomography solution for visualising particle effects on heat transfer during phase change in phase change materials (PCMs). The project will integrate multi-physics modelling, material characterisation, and XCT imaging to transform SH-PCM design, overcoming key challenges and enabling crucial TES technologies to advance.
Objective
Thermal energy storage (TES) is central to decoupling energy production from use, a prerequisite for deep renewable integration. Latent heat storage with phase change materials (PCMs) offers high energy density and sustainability, but their low thermal conductivity severely limits performance. Conventional enhancement methods—such as fins or particle-filled composites—have not reached their theoretical potential. Micro-scale phenomena like particle clustering, segregation, and the absence of conductive pathways remain poorly understood, as current diagnostics provide only indirect insights.
SHAPE-X (Salt-Hydrate with Added Particles via Experimental XCT) tackles this challenge by pioneering in-situ, in-operando 4D x-ray computed tomography (XCT) to visualize particle effects on heat transfer during PCM phase change. This breakthrough will identify the fundamental causes of underperformance in SH-PCM composites and enable the rational design of optimized formulations with significantly improved conductivity (3–4 W/mK).
The project integrates material characterization, XCT imaging, and multi-physics modeling, shifting SH-PCM development from trial-and-error to predictive design. A secondment at SINTEF Energi will test SH-PCMs in a mesoscale prototype, validating real-world behavior. Through this approach, SHAPE-X will deliver stable, high-performance particle-enhanced SH-PCMs, advancing TES technologies vital for large-scale renewable integration. It will also equip the fellow with state-of-the-art experimental and modeling expertise, positioning him as a leading researcher in material and thermal engineering.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering thermodynamic engineering heat engineering
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science multiphysics
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
6002 Luzern
Switzerland
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.