Research projects

Project start: October 2018

The overarching aim of the HPMS project is to exploit the cost reduction potential of salt tower power plants by developing a highly efficient receiver and optimising the solar high-temperature cycle as a whole. It thus creates the basis for the next generation of salt tower power plants. The overall project consists of 3 phases:

• Phase 1: Theoretical studies and basic engineering in the HPMS-I project
• Phase 2: Construction and operation of a test receiver system based on the technology developed in the HPMS-I project
• Phase 3: Utilisation of the technology in a pilot plant or commercial enclosure

The work of the SIJ in the HPMS-II project (Phase 2) focuses on the following:

• Validation of the dynamic simulation models developed in HPMS
• Design of a test receiver system supported by dynamic simulations of individual components and the overall system
• Development and design of a control concept and an optimised operating strategy
• Further development of the numerical simulation models for better prediction of yield and service life

Project partners:

• German Aerospace Centre (DLR) (coordinator)
• MAN Energy Solutions SE (MAN)
• Solar Institute Jülich of FH Aachen (SIJ)
• Flexible Industriemesstechnik GmbH (FLX)
• Endress + Hauser Messtechnik GmbH + CO.KG (E+H) (as associated partner)
• Mannesmann Stainless Tubes (MST) (as an associated partner)
• Holter Regelarmaturen GmbH & Co KG (HORA) (as associated partner)
• Salzgitter Mannesmann Forschung (SZMF) (as subcontractor)

Project duration: 01.06.2023 - 31.05.2025

The Neutron project aims to develop a systemic and integrative approach to the entire life cycle of energy production from renewable energy sources in the city of Kozani (Greece) and its surroundings in order to provide cost-effective energy for all. The aim is to develop a demonstration technology that will completely reduce emissions, primarily from the building sector of Kozani and additionally from economic activities, by 2030. The pilot project is based on the research and simulation of technology solutions that incorporate the principles of circular economy in the energy sector (e.g. through district heating, waste and wastewater treatment). The business model on which it is based is based on three principles:

1. Prioritising the integration of renewable energy into the energy system
2. Maximisation of product utilisation
3. Recovery of by-products and energy from waste.

At the same time, the project demonstrates how sustainable digital technologies can be used to support energy communities and decarbonise buildings.

At the centre of the energy concept is the Green Heat Module (GHM) from Kraftanlagen Energies & Services SE. The GHM is a new type of high-temperature electrothermal energy storage system that can store energy at temperatures ranging from 750 °C to 1000 °C. It utilises high-temperature electrical air filters. It uses electric high-temperature air heaters to convert electricity from various sources into high-energy heat and store it in ceramic honeycomb bricks. The stored heat can be used to drive a range of thermodynamic cycles, including power generation by gas and steam turbines, which can provide heat and power on demand. The GHM can be fed with electricity from fluctuating renewable energy sources and surplus electricity from the public grid, and can also be loaded with biogas co-firing during periods without sufficient availability of renewable electricity. The thermal storage system acts as a compensator for the fluctuating energy supply and balances supply with demand. As the energy is stored at a high temperature, the GHM can provide electricity and thermal energy as required in conjunction with a combined heat and power (CHP) unit.

The integrated energy concept centred on the GHM therefore combines a number of unique advantages:

• Integration of renewable energy generation into the heating sector
• Energy storage function to benefit from fluctuating renewable energy generation
• Variable supply of energy as electricity and heat as required
• Stabilisation of the transmission grid by buffering power peaks and generation outages
• Security of supply through the combination of several energy sources

Project partners:

• Municipality of Kozani
• ZEUS Helios Electricity Company
• AUTH: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• EYATH: Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company
• Solar Institute Jülich, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
• ABB Group Hellas
• Power Plants Energies & Services
• DEYAK: Municipal Water and Sewerage Company of Kozani
• DIADYMA: Solid Waste Management Body for Western Macedonia
• Ergoncell: IT-Consultants
• CERTH: Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute

Supported by:

• European Union

https://www.neutronpilot.com/about

Project duration 01.11.2021 - 31.10.2024

TESS KWK is the follow-up project to the TESS 2.0 research project, in which the innovative multiTESS(multifunctionalthermalenergy storage system) power-to-heat & power storage concept was developed and realised as a pilot system in a dedicated building on the Brainergy Park Jülich site.

The idea of the thermal energy storage system is to realise the charging of the storage system by means of a new type of electrical heating system using surplus electricity from renewable energy sources. It is also possible to store surplus thermal energy from industrial processes in the multiTESS. An innovative and unique feature is not only the provision but also the storage of high-temperature heat of up to 1000 °C. The stored energy can either be used as base load-capable heat - i.e. around the clock from 50 °C to 1000 °C - or released into existing CHP enclosures to generate electricity and heat as required.

In the TESS CHP project, the multiTESS is being further developed for use in municipal electricity and heating networks and optimised and qualified for this use, taking into account operating conditions that are as realistic as possible. To this end, an extensive test operation on the existing pilot plant, a concept optimisation and a market application analysis are being carried out. At the same time, a digital twin of the entire system is created and validated using the test results. With the digital twin, adaptation to various application scenarios can be carried out quickly and the plant behaviour can be predicted in the event of concept changes.

With the TESS CHP project, the multiTESS concept is further on the way to commercial realisation. Thanks to its decentralised and flexible energy supply, multiTESS represents a previously missing building block for securing the_CO2-free supply of electricity and heat in industry and also in municipal energy supply. This sector coupling is a key technology on the way to the desired climate neutrality.

More information can be found under the following link: More about TESS KWK

Project partners:

• Dürr AG
• Kraftanlagen Energies & Services GmbH
• Otto Junker GmbH
• Stadtwerke Jülich GmbH

Project duration: 01.10.2023 – 30.09.2026

The building sector faces an urgent need to adapt to climate change and reduce its carbon emissions. Heat pumps offer a promising solution for CO₂-neutral heating, with the market for heat pumps with ground collectors growing particularly in rural areas. In this context, the InnoFlaG project aims to develop innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and reliability of shallow geothermal systems.

As part of the project, novel shallow ground heat exchanger elements in combination with latent heat storages, energy storages and hydraulic modules are to be developed and tested as a functional unit by the industrial partners and modelled in interaction with the near-surface soil by our research facility. The research focuses on the optimisation of heat transfer in the ground, the prevention of harmful ground freezing, the development of a CO₂-reduced heat pump operating mode and the creation of a system design tool for demand-responsive ground heat collectors.

The project has set the following goals for resource efficiency and sustainability:

• Modelling of the ground to simulate heat and moisture transport and to investigate the seasonal behaviour of shallow geothermal systems
• Validation of simulation models through field measurements at geothermal installations
• Metrological evaluation of geothermal components
• Comparison and analysis of the operation modes between on/off and dynamically modulating heat pumps
• Use of simulation results for optimizing shallow geothermal systems
• Development of optimized system solutions

Project partners:

• Solar-Institut Jülich of the FH Aachen
• Fachbereich 02 | Bauingenieurwesen of the FH Aachen
• WKG Energietechnik GmbH
• GeoCollect GmbH

Project funding:

• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
• ENERGIEWENDEBAUEN Research for energy-optimised buildings and neighbourhoods

Project duration: 31.05.2023 - 20.05.2024

Like the federal government, NRW has set itself the goal of completely decarbonising its heating supply by 2045. Among other things, this means that the space heating and hot water demand of 123 to 148 TWh/a in 2045 must be completely covered by climate-friendly and renewable energies. In the study, which is being carried out by a consortium consisting of the Fraunhofer IFAM, IEG, UMSICHT, Bochum University of Applied Sciences and the Solar Institute Jülich, all relevant heat generation options were analysed and their energy potential determined. The greatest available potential for the year 2045 was identified for near-surface geothermal energy with a potential of 135 TWh/a, (medium) deep geothermal energy (hydrothermal) with 38 TWh/a and industrial waste heat with a potential of 35 TWh/a. However, other heat sources such as waste heat from electrolysers or data centres also have regionally significant potential. The study also analysed the potential of ground-mounted solar thermal energy in NRW for the first time.

With the potential study on heat supply in NRW, the LANUV is supporting cities and municipalities in the creation of municipal heat plans in accordance with the Heat Planning Act. The law stipulates that the existing and potential must be determined regionally and then described in a scenario analysis as to how a climate-neutral heat supply can be achieved within the municipal area. The data collected by the LANUV makes heat planning easier for the municipalities, as the nationwide data can serve as a basis and therefore does not have to be collected by each municipality separately. All results collected in the study will be freely available for download as geodata after completion.

Project partners:

• Fraunhofer IFAM
• Fraunhofer IEG
• UMSICHT
• Bochum University of Applied Sciences
• Solar Institute Jülich of FH Aachen

Project duration: 01.01.2023 - 30.06.2025

Reducing_{CO2 emissions} is one of the core objectives of the energy transition. There is a particular need for action in the area of the "heating transition", as the share of renewable energy is only 17.4 % (as of 2022). Heat pumps, which can provide heating using electricity generated from renewable sources, are a key component of this transformation. In order to increase their use and efficiency, they must be operated in conjunction with thermal storage systems, e.g. ground heat exchangers or ice storage systems. However, as this has so far required a high use of concrete and thus_{CO2 emissions}, the core objective of the project is to develop steel-based solutions for heat generation, storage and transfer.

To demonstrate the_{CO2 reduction} and regenerative properties of the energy system, a plus-energy building in the form of a digital demonstrator is being developed with the SIJ partners, the Institute for Steel Construction - Sustainability in Lightweight Metal Construction (RWTH Aachen) and the FH Dortmund.

The project is funded by FOSTA (Forschungsvereinigung Stahlanwendung e.V.), IGF (Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung), Stiftung Stahlanwendung and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.

Project duration: 01.07.2022 - 31.01.2025

The aim of this ZIM project is to develop a new type of SCR wire mesh element for exhaust gas aftertreatment in order to reduce the nitrogen oxides (_NOx) produced during the combustion of fuels in the engine as far as possible. The planned KAT system is designed for small CHP units with an output of up to 50 kW and is suitable both for original equipment and for retrofitting existing exhaust gas systems in CHP units. The aim is to achieve a high SCR catalytic converter efficiency of ≥ 95 %.

For the design of the knitted wire mesh elements, a new type of CFD flow simulation is required, with which the modelling of complex, multi-layer knitted wire meshes and their exhaust gas properties can be carried out for the first time. This development and series of tests to validate the calculations are being carried out by the Solar Institute Jülich at FH Aachen.

A further development within "EasyPlug" is the automation of the combined manufacturing process of the knitted wire mesh elements, which are currently largely wound by hand and therefore cannot be guaranteed to be of reproducible quality. This generation of consistent quality and the associated guaranteed nitrogen oxide reduction capacity is to be made possible by automating and connecting the individual components (knitting, winding, pressing).

The co-operation partner eloona GmbH develops the geometry of the knitted wire mesh elements on the basis of the optimum production parameters determined by simulation. The geometries developed are being researched in particular for their suitability for coating and an optimised coating method is also being developed.

Term: 01.10.2023 - 30.09.2026

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) enclosures offer great potential for the future renewable (green) energy mix in Germany. The first enclosures have already been in use for years, mostly on artificial bodies of water such as gravel pits. Nevertheless, there are gaps in knowledge and uncertainties regarding the effects on the environment, especially the aquatic ecology, as well as impairments to the technical functionality due to possible snow loads.

For this reason, the Solar Institute Jülich (SIJ), the Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac) and the company HÜLSKENS have joined forces to collect and assess scientifically sound data on the environmental impact of floating PV systems. The co-operation is planned for at least three years.

The data will be collected at the site of a 750 KWp FPV system operated since 2020 on a gravel lake owned by HÜLSKENS in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia. In parallel, further questions are being addressed in customised experiments in a model pond system. The object of investigation is the effects of FPV enclosures on aquatic ecology as well as the technical and ecological optimisation of FPV enclosures, with a focus on the floating substructure. Experiments on cooling and cleaning and, in particular, on the safe reduction of snow loads on such enclosures will be carried out to develop an optimised system operation.

The co-operation partners will test innovative approaches to increasing and securing the yield of floating PV. The data from the test facility and the monitoring will be incorporated into the dynamic lake model StoLaM developed by gaiac. This model will be expanded as part of the aforementioned monitoring and calibrated with the data collected, so that a validated forecasting tool for estimating the environmental impact of floating PV systems will also be available for other bodies of water.

In addition, life cycle assessments of the floating platform will be carried out with regard to an optimised solution approach. Finally, the existing system approach is to be tested and optimised for use on large lakes, e.g. open-cast mining lakes.

Our project partners:

• Hülskens GmbH & Co. KG
• gaiac - Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment at RWTH Aachen University

Funding: State of NRW - Programme for rational energy use, renewable energies and energy saving - progres.nrw - Innovation programme area

Duration: 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2026

As part of the joint R&D project EPH_FuE, solutions are being developed for the city of Herzogenrath to achieve a_CO2-neutral energy supply by 2030. The SIJ is working on the sub-project "Floating PV systems", in which an optimised, automatable construction concept for the installation of floating photovoltaic systems on the Nivelsteiner Sandwerke lake is being tested and improved yield forecasts for floating PV systems are being developed.

The challenges associated with floating PV systems include the still inaccurate performance prediction, difficulties in correctly mapping floating PV systems in design tools and the lack of consideration of cost reductions through prefabrication and assembly. A solution is being developed based on two approaches:

Firstly, system monitoring will be implemented to capture and analyse relevant data from the modules used and the environmental conditions to enable more accurate yield forecasting and more effective remote monitoring.

Secondly, the ability to automate the installation of floating photovoltaic systems is being investigated. For this purpose, pre-assembled subsystems available on the market are being tested theoretically and practically in order to simplify assembly and disassembly.

The sub-project "Floating PV enclosures" thus aims to further develop and optimise this innovative technology.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.

Our project partners:

• Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (project coordinator)
• RWTH Aachen University
• Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences
• Eifel-Rur Water Association KdöR
• Enwor - Energy and water on site GmbH
• Nivelsteiner Sandwerke und Sandsteinbrüche GmbH