DESCRIPTION

Cowa Thermal Solutions is a compact thermal energy storage based on phase change materials (PCM) which helps boost renewable energies in building technology. Cowa Thermal Solution AG is the only company in Switzerland which develops PCM for heating applications. It can be ideally combined with photovoltaic-operated heat pump systems as it can decouple demand and supply, and mitigate peaks. It acts as a key element to increase self-sufficiency, efficiency of the system and to reduce emissions.

CONTRIBUTION IN RENOWAVE

Several optimization potentials for PCM (material combinations, temperatures, energy density, encapsulation, installation, control, etc.) are addressed in Subproject 2.1 “Design and technical improvement of fuel-switch concepts”. Cowa can offer robust, performant and tailorable solutions, resulting in a strong market advantage. It has already developed PCMs with customized melting points of 31 °C and 48 °C, which can be further tailored to retrofit application and also combined in one storage. These and respective control strategies will be tested and improved with regard to interaction with the HP. Further improvements concern the material and shape of the encapsulation to increase the bulk density.

Fuel-switch concepts