Objectives

This Actions objective is to foster and accelerate long-term advancement of renewable energy systems and phase change materials research in Europe through design, development, characterisation and simulation of new generation modified hybrid phase change materials for use in energy storage for heating, cooling and renewable energy applications.

The objectives are presented in three scientific and one dissemination areas.

  1. New phase change materials (PCM) development and characterisation where objectives include:
    2. To develop new and hybrid PCM this objective will be achieved through extensive materials research capability which exists across the partners.
    To develop standardised methodologies to characterise PCM this objective will be accomplished by the developing a unified approach to techniques and facilities.
  2. Modelling of PCM and their application in renewable energy systems (RES) where objectives include
    3. To deliver new mathematical and numerical models to predict the macroscopic properties of hybrid-PCM this objective will be realised by the development of a rigorous understanding of the processes taking place within PCM.
    To explore the validation and implementation of these models in commercial numerical codes this objective will be achieved by meticulous experimental characterisation.
    To investigate the use of these new numerical codes to design new optimised RES this objective will be accomplished by integrating codes developed for PCM behaviour prediction into models for RES.
  3. New applications for innovative integration of PCM in RES
    4. a. To develop innovative RES designs incorporating PCM this objective will be realized through the cooperation of RES research experts. 
    b. To fabricate new integrated RES - this objective will be achieved using the designs developed in 3a and the models developed in 2c. 
    c. To characterize these novel RES in indoor and outdoor conditions this objective will be attained by characterization of the systems in a number of different partner countries.
  4. Dissemination
    5. Successful dissemination of results through meetings, public (and private) website and through publications (conferences and journals).
    Successful implementation of STSMs.
    Annual Training Schools presented by leading COST experts.
    Hosting of a Strategic Workshop midway through the Action and an International Conference at the end of the Action.