The evolution of renewable energy has led to increased incorporation of wind and solar power into the grid. To ensure efficient use, the collection and storage of excess energy are vital. In the realm of industrial operations, there’s also a need to harness waste heat efficiently. UK-based Sunamp has emerged with a groundbreaking approach, utilizing a transformative phase-change material. This substance can endure over 40,000 cycles, revolutionizing the way we gather heat from one location to deliver it elsewhere, potentially through waterborne methods.
Introducing an Innovative Phase-Change Material
Within the energy sector, phase-change materials (PCMs) are renowned for their heat absorption and emission during their transition between states. The challenge lies in crafting a PCM robust enough to maintain its structure through countless transitions. Common PCMs include ice, which exemplifies this concept through its freezing and melting cycles, as well as various waxes and oils found in everything from industrial tools to high-performance textiles.
Dr. David Oliver, Sunamp’s Materials Development Manager, pointed out the limitations of current commercial PCMs, particularly bio-oils. Their high cost, low energy density, and sustainability concerns, coupled with their flammability, have restricted their use. Realizing the industry’s need for an alternative, Sunamp began its quest for a more practical solution.
Sunamp’s Durable and Efficient PCM Breakthrough
After extensive research in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, Sunamp unveiled its novel PCM dubbed Plentigrade P58. Comprised of water, salt hydrate syntheses, and other unique additives, this ‘futuristic ice’ is designed to achieve high energy density and sustainability without relying on expensive or limited components.
Surprisingly, sodium acetate trihydrate, commonly associated with potato chip flavorings, plays a role in this complex mixture. Its presence, alongside other ingredients, helps the PCM melt and solidify into precisely structured crystals, contributing to the material’s overall performance.
Sunamp’s confidence in the stability and longevity of Plentigrade P58 is substantial. Predicting an impressive lifespan that could reach half a century with daily cycling, their bold claim is underpinned by findings from intense X-ray analyses at the UK’s synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source.
Transporting Heat via London’s Historic Thames
The application of this innovative material is as intriguing as its composition. Sunamp has pioneered a means of capturing and conveying waste heat via a consortium, focusing initially on Cory Riverside Energy‘s waste-to-energy facility in East London. Given the site’s history and current logistics, which already involve river barges, the concept of waterborne thermal battery transport seemed a natural fit.
The novelty here is not just the storage method, but the mobility it offers. Heat-laden barges become traveling energy packets, with Sunamp’s containerized solution imposing no spatial burden on the receiver’s premises. Instead, energy is exchanged through a water-based system directly from the batteries on the barge.
Affording a significant carbon footprint reduction compared to conventional gas heating, the interest in this technology is rising, with major initiatives like the Pimlico District Heating Undertaking by Westminster City Council considering the use of two barges equipped with Sunamp’s batteries.
Unmatched Benefits of Mobile Energy Storage
While the Westminster project is just one example, the implications stretch far beyond a single initiative. As Sheen Parkside‘s CEO, David Carter, highlights, the mismatch between the production and necessity of high-grade heat is a wider issue. Similar to the delay in constructing new transmission lines for wind and solar resources, effective distribution channels for captured heat are essential.
Sunamp’s proposition addresses this issue head-on, promising rapid deployment within a year, as opposed to the prolonged processes of establishing fixed infrastructure. By adapting to each community’s unique geographical and logistical circumstances, Sunamp sits at the forefront of renewable energy’s future, potentially revolutionizing access and use across the globe.
