The overall objective of WEDISTRICT is to demonstrate DHC as an integrated solution that exploits the combination of RES, thermal storage and waste heat recycling technologies to satisfy 100% of the heating and cooling energy demand in new DHC and up to 60-100% in retrofitted DHC. For this purpose, the focus of WEDISTRICT is large-scale replication of best practice: better valorisation of local resources, like renewable and waste heat by making District Heating and Cooling networks more efficient in relation to the use of new resources. In parallel, systems will evolve to provide even more flexible solutions by the integration of innovative molten-salts based thermal storage, the interaction with other energy networks (electricity and gas) and the involvement of end-users (operators and consumers) through ICT-based control and decision making. Finally, to enable significant expansion, cost-effectiveness will be enhanced by transitioning from handicraft to more industrialised solutions that integrate LEAN methodologies to optimise processes and lower costs.

HyCool Project Mission is increasing the current use of Solar Heat in Industry Processes, and to do so the project proposes the coupling of a new Fresnel CSP Solar thermal collectors (FCSP) with specially build Hybrid Heat Pumps (HHP) (a “two-in one” combination of adsorption and compressor based heat pumps) for a wider output temperature range (Solar Heating & Cooling –SHC-), and to provide a wide range of design and operational configurations to better fit each case, hence increasing the potential implementation of the proposed Solar Heat in industrial environments. The two main features of HyCool System are Flexibility and Efficiency an they will allow different strategies for a technically and economically viable system. During Capital Expeditures phase simplicity will be aimed pursuing easiness in design configuration optimization, modular construction and ITS for commissioning. During Operational Expenditures the optimum balance between the HyCool System Operational Flexibility and Efficiency will be targeted to maximize HyCool cost effectiveness to each individual case. Following this, the pilots proposed will demonstrate both opposed strategies in two selected key leading industry sectors: Food Case Pilot targets specialized small Food industries in high solar irradiation areas with cooling needs in their processes. Here narrow configurations are aimed to optimize Efficiency, so a simple system will be selected to obtain maximum outputs based on the conditions of use. Chemical Case Pilot target industries with several processes in high solar irradiation areas with steam and cooling needs. Here a more complex configuration is aimed to optimize Operational Flexibility, so a more complex system will be implemented, able to be switched among different options based on weather, season and production schedule. Finally, special consideration will be taken in building trust during HyCool communication and results dissemination during the project.

Fresnex GmbH has developed a cheap and easy-to-install solar mirror system that concentrates the solar radiation onto a receiver, generating steam directly in the receiver. The steam is used in existing industrial steam systems for production in various industry segments. The technology works as a fuel saver technology by reducing energy costs, dependency on oil and gas and CO2 emission of its customers. Through a patented innovation Fresnex GmbH will be able to significantly reduce the system costs compared to existing technologies while parallel reducing the complexity of integration. Due to the lower investment costs, projects are now financial attractive, opening up a huge market. In Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria together about 5,5 TWh could be switched to solar with even more potential in South Africa, Mexico, US, and many other countries. The innovation itself relates to a new and cheap mirror bearing, pivotable holding the mirrors. It is realised through a line-hinge in a cheap, effective and precise way. The thermal performance of the system prototype has been proved by a solar testing institute with good results. The management (two former university colleagues with 14 years of track record in plant engineering and construction) are the majority owners of Fresnex GmbH and they plan to sell company shares to further fund the project in addition to the already inserted private equity. In order to better understand the market needs and to gain customer contacts, Fresnex will perform a customer survey and address technical and financial topics as H2020 phase one project. The commercialisation plan includes a first system in industrial environment in 2015 (TRL5 to 6) followed by two reference systems for large scale implementations. At the same time the semi-automated production line will be developed. Without at least parts of this semi-automated production line, the two reference plants cannot be built (phase 2 project).

HYBUILD will develop two innovative hybrid storage concepts: one for the Mediterranean climate primarily meant for cooling energy provision, and one for the Continental climate primarily meant for heating and DHW production. HYBUILD action is a systematic approach for developing operationally integrated thermal and electric components and systems from TRL4 to TRL6 and beyond. The hybrid storage concepts are based on: a compact sorption storage, based on a patented way to integrate an innovative adsorbent material within an efficient high surface heat exchanger, a high density latent storage, based on a high performance aluminum micro-channel heat exchanger with additional PCM layers, and an efficient electric storage. The balancing of thermal and electrical energy flows will be realized by seamless integration of electric building components in a DC coupled system and by efficient conversion and upgrading of electric surplus and renewable thermal energy sources by compression and adsorption heat pumps. The components will be integrated to realize the full-scale hybrid storages (with overall volume between 1 and 2 m3), which will be properly managed by advanced control and building energy management systems (BEMS), able to optimize the interactions between components and district network. Such a configuration will allow reaching energy savings ranging between 20 and 40%, on yearly basis, both in Mediterranean and Continental climate for non-connected and district-connected buildings. HYBUILD hybrid storages will be used to upgrade existing building configurations and monitored in three different demo sites in near-life operation, both for non-connected and district-connected buildings in different climates.