The HEAT4ENERGY project aims to utilise industrial waste heat and convert it into electrical energy. To this end, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is developing and testing innovative materials for use in thermomagnetic generators.
Decarbonising the European energy system is crucial if the EU is to achieve its climate targets and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition to renewables from solar and wind energy, there are large resources of unused waste heat from data centres and the food and paper industries.
To date, there has been a lack of efficient technologies to recover this waste heat and convert it into electricity. The research project, which is being coordinated by Delft University of Technology, aims to develop thermomagnetic generators for the conversion of this low-temperature waste heat and bring them to a marketable level.
Prove and improve performance
Three demonstrators are being developed and validated as part of HEAT4ENERGY. Thermomagnetic materials and components are being synthesised to ensure the efficient transfer and conversion of waste heat into electrical energy. The performance of these customised materials will be verified by in-situ experiments.
Anja Waske from BAM explains: “In the materials production and characterisation work package, an interdisciplinary team will work with industrial partners to develop optimal materials and components for a new generation of thermomagnetic demonstrators that can efficiently transfer waste heat and convert it into electrical energy. The materials must be able to withstand numerous thermomagnetic cycles and must only fatigue or corrode slightly. We want to use in-situ experiments to test and improve the reliability of these customised materials.”
In the course of the project, doctoral students will also be trained as experts who will drive forward the development and implementation of the conversion of waste heat into electricity in the future.
EU supports with 2.7 million euros
13 universities and research institutions from six countries and three industrial companies are involved in HEAT4ENERGY. The project is part of the EU Horizon Europe programme and will run for four years. It is funded by the European Commission with 2.7 million euros and supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action.
The European Commission's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fund excellent research and innovation and equip researchers at all stages of their careers with new knowledge and skills through transnational mobility and exposure to different sectors and disciplines. MSCAs contribute to building European research and innovation capacities by investing in the long-term careers of excellent female researchers.
