TREASURE: SOLID helps to shape the future of large heat storage systems

Under the leadership of AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies (AEE INTEC) in Styria, Austria, the TREASURE project team has developed an ambitious vision. The aim is to develop and implement innovative large-scale heat storage technologies for district heating systems that enable safe, cost-effective, and sustainable thermal energy storage on a large scale.

The TREASURE project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme and is part of the ambitious Green Deal. The goal is to be completely free of fossil fuels by the year 2050. To achieve this, Europe’s district heating sector must switch from coal, oil and gas to renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal and industrial waste heat. Storage has a key role to play.

A key aspect of TREASURE is the development of seven large-scale heat storage projects in European cities. France, Germany, Poland, Serbia, and Austria. These projects involve the design, construction and operation of large underground heat storage facilities ranging in size from 18,000 to 500,000 cubic metres. They will store heat from various renewable energy sources and industrial waste heat to replace fossil-fuelled heat, making an important contribution to meeting climate targets.

SOLID is implementing one of the seven TREASURE demonstrators with BigSolar Pancevo in Serbia. This innovative approach combines several sustainable technologies in one efficient system: an impressive 150,000 m³ underground storage tank, a 35,000 m² solar thermal collector field (24,500 kW capacity) and an absorption heat pump. This combination enables not only sustainable energy storage, but also efficient use of renewable resources. BigSolar Pancevo is expected to save 5,000  tons of CO2 emissions per year. This pioneering initiative underlines SOLID’s commitment to innovative solutions in the field of renewable energy and makes a significant contribution to achieving our shared climate goals.

The TREASURE project offers not only technological innovations, but also a broad information base and innovative solutions for investors, district heating operators, decision makers, construction companies and engineers. It will help accelerate the growth of the large scale thermal storage market in Europe and bring us one step closer to a sustainable energy future.

For more information, visit the project website: https://www.treasure-project.eu/