Research database

The IOL-CAN-HEAT previous project is a way to achieve an EU competitive and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions economy by 2050, by exploiting waste heat to generate electrical power. Indeed rejected and naturally available heat constitutes an enormous energy resource that remains mostly untapped. Normally high- and medium[1]grade waste heat is easy to recover; whereas low-grade waste heat (below 250 °C, more than 60% of the total waste heat) is unfortunately the most difficult to be harvested. The existing technologies’ efficiency makes the recovery process economically unfeasible. This becomes even more important for temperatures below 100°C, as in the case of domestic usage. Consequently, there is an urgent need for an innovative technology able to solve these problems following a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. IOL-CAN-HEAT will provide new low-impact solutions developing and validating an innovative process to directly convert the thermal energy into electric energy. The key feature of this innovative technology is the temperature dependence of the cell voltage of an electrochemical capacitor (supercapacitor), taking advantage of the spontaneous voltage rise during thermal cycles, that allows thermal energy conversion into electrical energy directly stored into s supercapacitor with several co-benefits. Multidisciplinary approach based on materials engineering and modeling, advanced characterization methods, rational design of all the electrochemical reactor components, and sustainability criteria evaluation are the keys to reach this ambitious goal. Starting from previous ESR evaluation, S-IOL-CAN-HEAT will solve the few serious points reaised form the referees mainly related to: i) materials (avoiding the use of critical raw materials) cited in the methodologies; ii) providing concrete measures to increase supercapacitors/batteries filed with well justidied market analysis identifying key actors; iii) acting on the workplan, since was judged not sufficiently illustrative (improving deliverables and milestones) and finally detailing the mitigation measures.