CETP - Innovative High Temperature Heat Pump for Flexible Industrial Heat on Demand

European industry uses 800 TWh annually for heating below 200°C. By combining high-temperature heat pumps with thermal energy storage, the demand can be covered with just 400 TWh from intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. Additionally, the heat pumps can contribute to balancing the grid. UP-FLEXH aims to develop and demonstrate a first-of-a-kind integrated energy system, with solar thermal collectors, an industrial high-temperature heat pump and thermal energy storage for industrial heat up to 400°C. The system will cover a variable industrial demand, while adapting to variable availability of renewable energy in the grid and grid capacity.

UP-FLEXH aims to develop and validate a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) integrated energy system to provide flexible industrial heat, as well as cooling and opportunities for power flexibility, maximizing and facilitating the renewable integration within the industrial sector and enhancing the overall efficiency of heating generation whilst ensuring a complete fulfilment of the industrial requirements. Specifically, UP-FLEXH develops a first-of-a-kind (FOAK), cost-effective and reliable high-temperature industrial heat pump fully integrated in a flexible energy system, innovative solar thermal collectors purposely optimized for industrial application, and modular thermal energy storage based on innovative materials for flexible industrial medium temperature (~400°C) heat decarbonization