What is the STOREHEAT project?
STOREHEAT is an ambitious European research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC).
It aims to rethink how we store and use heat, which accounts for a significant share of energy consumption across many sectors. By developing new materials and technologies, STOREHEAT seeks to help reduce CO₂ emissions in Europe’s energy-intensive industries, which are responsible for around 36% of the continent’s annual CO₂ emissions. The goal is to make energy storage cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable for the future.
STOREHEAT develops alternative materials for more sustainable thermal energy storage.
Current thermal energy storage systems are often expensive, polluting, or inefficient. STOREHEAT is exploring cleaner and smarter alternatives for high-temperature heat storage: calcium carbide-based composites (3C). Produced from calcium-rich biochar at temperatures far lower than current solutions, 3C materials are both more sustainable and energy-efficient. Preliminary results show a thermal storage capacity 20% higher than that of silicon carbide.
Advanced characterization of 3C composites using synchrotrons
To better understand and optimize the properties of 3C composites, in-depth analyses will be conducted throughout the project using synchrotrons. These facilities allow characterization of the materials’ structure and composition at the atomic and nanoscale, providing essential insights to improve the thermal performance and durability of the composites.