Today, industries generate a large amount of waste heat, and 60% of it is lost without being used. The project 'All in One: Harvesting of Waste Heat with Solid Thermal Battery' (Heat2Battery) aims to use this waste to charge batteries.
Heat2Battery, led by Professor Nini Pryds, DTU Energy, aims to create a proof of concept using new materials that enable a new type of battery, so-called 'Solid thermal batteries'. These batteries will be able to directly charge electricity at high temperatures using the waste heat and discharge the electricity at lower temperatures.
The advantage of this technology is that it can convert heat directly into energy at high temperatures, which can then be efficiently utilized at room temperature. The new type of battery can be placed directly near any heat source and charged from it. This enables waste heat from industrial processes to be recovered, providing efficient and affordable energy. The battery can be used in vehicles, for example. It charges using the heat generated by the engine while driving. When the car is stationary, the battery can recharge the main driving battery. In principle, this type of battery can be scaled up without limitations, making it a promising solution for contributing to achieving the 2050 climate goals.
The project has received 3 million euros from the EIC Pathfinder 2024 programme.
