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PUMP-HEAT · Project

Making Gas Power Plants Flexible Enough to Support Renewable Energy Growth

energyPilotedTRL 6
pumpheat.eu

Imagine a gas power plant that normally runs at a steady pace, like a car stuck in one gear. When the sun shines or wind blows, we need that plant to quickly dial down — and ramp back up when renewables fade. PUMP-HEAT added a fast-cycling heat pump and thermal storage to these plants, like giving the car a full gearbox. The bonus heat gets pumped into district heating networks instead of being wasted, and the plant can flex its power output far more than before while staying above 90% energy efficiency.

By the numbers
>90%
Energy efficiency of CHP plants supported by this technology
18
Consortium partners validating the technology
83%
Industry partner ratio in the consortium
8
Countries represented in the consortium
21
Total project deliverables produced
2
Demo deliverables with physical prototypes at real sites
The business problem

What needed solving

Gas-fired combined cycle power plants are the backbone of Europe's electrical grid, but they struggle to flex their output fast enough to accommodate surges in wind and solar power. CHP plants are even more constrained because they must meet fixed heating demand, leaving almost no room to adjust electricity production. This rigidity threatens both grid stability and plant profitability as renewables keep growing.

The solution

What was built

The project built and delivered thermal storage prototypes to a utility demo site (IREN) and a university validation site, along with components for a heat pump-combined cycle coupling system including an innovative expander. A total of 21 deliverables were produced covering hardware, controls, and integration across the full system.

Audience

Who needs this

Combined cycle power plant operators needing grid flexibility upgradesDistrict heating companies wanting to decouple heat and power productionGas turbine OEMs looking to offer flexibility retrofit packagesEnergy utilities participating in primary reserve marketsMunicipal energy companies operating CHP with district heating networks
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Power Generation & Utilities
enterprise
Target: Combined cycle power plant operators

If you are a utility operating gas-fired combined cycle plants and struggling with grid flexibility demands from growing renewable penetration — this project demonstrated an integrated heat pump and thermal storage system that reduces Minimum Environmental Load and increases power ramp rates. The system was validated at demo sites with 18 consortium partners across 8 countries, with an 83% industry participation rate confirming real-world relevance.

District Heating Networks
enterprise
Target: District heating operators and municipal energy companies

If you are a district heating operator looking to improve the economics of your CHP plants — this project built thermal storage prototypes and a heat pump coupling that captures waste heat for your network. Your CHP plant gets uncoupled from rigid thermal demand, meaning it can respond to electricity market signals while still serving your heating customers reliably.

Gas Turbine & Power Equipment Manufacturing
enterprise
Target: OEMs producing gas turbines and combined cycle components

If you are an equipment manufacturer seeking to offer flexibility upgrades to existing combined cycle installations — this project developed and tested components including an innovative expander for heat pump efficiency, thermal storage prototypes, and advanced control systems for smart scheduling. The technology was validated at demo and validation sites with prototypes delivered and tested.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to retrofit our existing combined cycle plant with this technology?

The project data does not include specific retrofit cost figures. However, with 18 partners (83% from industry) and demo-site validation completed, cost data from real installations should be available from the consortium. Contact the coordinator for site-specific cost estimates.

Can this work at full industrial scale on our existing power plant?

The system was demonstrated at the IREN demosite and UNIGE validation site with actual thermal storage prototypes and PHCC components delivered and installed. This means it has moved beyond lab testing to real combined cycle environments, though full commercial-scale deployment data would need to come from the consortium.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

With 15 industry partners and 3 universities in the consortium, IP is likely distributed among multiple parties. The innovative heat pump expander and control system for smart scheduling are key proprietary elements. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated through the coordinator, UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA.

Does this comply with EU energy regulations and emissions standards?

The project was funded under the LCE-28-2017 topic focused on combined heat and power. The technology directly supports EU energy strategy goals for CHP and district heating, and helps plants meet grid flexibility requirements driven by renewable energy integration mandates.

How long does integration take and what downtime should we expect?

Based on available project data, the project ran from 2017 to 2021 including R&D, prototyping, and site demonstration. Actual retrofit timelines for a commercial installation would be shorter. The 21 deliverables produced include integration components and control systems designed for coupling with existing plants.

How does this integrate with our existing plant control systems?

The project developed advanced control concepts for smart scheduling that manage the heat pump, thermal storage, and combined cycle as an integrated system. The controls modulate heat pump power to cope with primary reserve market constraints, suggesting compatibility with existing grid service protocols.

What kind of technical support is available post-installation?

The consortium includes 15 industry partners across 8 countries, with major utility IREN providing the demo site. Based on available project data, ongoing support arrangements would depend on licensing agreements with the technology developers in the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavily industry-driven consortium with 15 out of 18 partners from industry (83%), complemented by 3 universities across 8 European countries. The presence of a major Italian utility (IREN) as demo-site host signals genuine commercial interest — utilities don't offer their operational plants for experiments unless they see real value. With 3 SMEs in the mix, there's also a pathway for specialized component suppliers. The geographic spread across Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Poland, and Sweden covers key European energy markets. For a business looking to adopt this technology, the consortium structure suggests multiple potential technology suppliers and integration partners already exist.

How to reach the team

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA (Italy) — use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to get the right contact person

Order a report on this consortiumSee UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the PUMP-HEAT team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific plant configuration and flexibility needs.

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