Storage of power and heat in salt hydrate

SUNTHERM has developed a prototype of a heating battery, based on a salt hydrate dissolved in vegetable oil, to store solar heat and surplus heat from air-to-water heat pump installations. The battery storage capacity is approximately 1500 litres of hot water and has a space requirement of just 60x60x200 cm (corresponding to a standard kitchen cupboard element). The amount of hot water is equal to 12 hours heating consumption for an average single-family house during the winter. This project is the final development of a prototype for a 0-series. The product will be installed with a heat pump and a solar heating system, and demonstrated in 5-10 privately owned houses. Results will be analysed in order to determine how the installation should be controlled and monitored by a third party aggregator in order to be part of the future Smart Grid and intelligent energy system. It is expected that the system’s performance will be 30 % better than currently available air-to-water heat pumps, for the same price.