Decarbonising heating and hot water using solar thermal collectors coupled with thermal storage: The scale of the challenge. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kimpton, Harriet; Zhang, Xunli; Stulz, Eugen
• Is Part Of: Energy reports. Volume 6(2020)Supplement 5
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Solar thermal collectors -- Silver nanofluids -- Thermal storage -- Salt hydrates -- Decarbonising; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.02.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4847

Abstract

Abstract: This paper explores the feasibility of using renewable solar thermal energy linked to a salt hydrate thermochemical store (reversible chemical reaction involving the addition / removal of water from a salt) to provide a zero-carbon heating and hot water option for an average UK home. Volumetric absorption based on diluted colloidal suspensions or nanofluids containing wavelength tuneable plasmonic silver nanoparticles are a possible means for enhancing solar thermal capture. To make full use of this captured energy, it requires inter-seasonal storage in a suitable energy dense, high efficiency thermal store. As such even the potentially highest energy density obtainable for a salt hydrate thermochemical store would still need a store of greater than 35 m 3 (10 MWh) to nearly meet current winter heating and hot water demands (with 1 discharge cycle per annum). With a possible increase in collector efficiency to over 70% such a system would collect enough solar energy annually to become viable for homes with a greater than average (>15 m 2 ) roof area, a lower than median consumption (<12, 000 kWhyr −1 ) and enough space for a large thermochemical store ( ≤ 46 m 3 ). This paper concludes by detailing the significant additional research efforts required to bring this possible decarbonising solution to a prototype level of maturity.