The packed bed seasonal storage has been developed during six years and three previous prototypes developed and built in corporation between BRNO University and Alumistr SE. The last prototype is in it´s first year of operation and active data measurements from real operation are saved for current and future analysis. The core temperature is 600 degrees C and the thermal output from the storage is used in a single family house in Northern Sweden. The operational storage prototype volume is 50m3 and is calculated for supplying of 25-50% of the annual heating demand, depending on heat losses and during which time of the year the storage is being charged. The storage is built like a standing cylinder, a silo, and is charged only by a PV plant next to the storage. Data from this storage is now evaluated and the next step is upscaling the storage technology to real DH scale. During long periods of time there is excess renewable energy production in the European power grids. When packed bed thermal storages are applied in larger scale, they will make big impact by – stabilizing the fluctuating electric grid, enabling more solar and wind plants to be grid connected. It will contribute to less CO2 emissions in one way by enabling more solar and wind. connected to the DH grids. This technology could be adopted to all district heating grids around the world. It has the potential to save wind park and solar park owners from going bankrupt.
Visit the project’s website here.
