Imagine a solar panel that doesn't just make power while the sun is out, but acts like a giant thermal battery. It captures sunlight, stores it as intense heat in special metal alloys at temperatures over 1200°C, and then turns that heat back into electricity using a solid-state converter. It's like having a tiny, super-hot furnace that provides clean power even at midnight.
Current concentrated solar power is too bulky and cannot provide electricity on demand without massive footprints. Industries need a compact, high-temperature way to store solar energy for use when the sun isn't shining.
A modular prototype called SUNSON-Box integrating beam-splitting optics, Fe-Si alloy thermal storage, and TPV converters, alongside a digital design tool (SUNSON-Tool).
If you are an electrolyzer plant operator dealing with the intermittent nature of solar power — this project developed the SUNSON-Box that provides dispatchable electricity. This allows for continuous hydrogen production regardless of sunlight availability.
If you are a high-temperature industrial processor dealing with expensive carbon-based heating — this project developed a system operating above 1200°C that stores solar energy as heat. This enables a transition to zero-emission industrial heating.
If you are a sustainable building developer dealing with the massive footprint of traditional solar thermal plants — this project developed a modular solution with 10 times less volume than current technologies. This allows for high-density energy storage in urban or constrained environments.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project aims to increase cost-effectiveness through a modular approach and a system size 10 times smaller than current CSP technologies.
Yes, the project includes a digital tool (SUNSON-Tool) specifically designed for scale-up analysis and replicability using multidisciplinary optimization.
Based on available project data, the project provides a set of features for exploitation and communication, though specific licensing terms are not detailed.
The system is designed for dispatchable power generation, meaning it can deliver electricity on demand to match energy demand profiles via the SUNSON-Tool AI optimization.
The project runs from December 2022 to January 2027, with the goal of advancing the technology through the market uptake roadmap.
The consortium is balanced for technology transfer, consisting of 6 partners across 4 countries. With a 33% industry ratio (including 2 SMEs), there is a direct link between the academic research from the universities and the practical application requirements of industrial partners.
Contact Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Contact us to connect with the SUNSON consortium for TRL4 prototype licensing.
