The INTERSTORES Consortium held its annual meeting in Vienna from October 2nd to 3rd, 2024, hosted by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). The meeting showcased exciting advancements in seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (sTES) technologies, system integration, and market strategies. Over the course of two days, experts from across Europe discussed project milestones, innovations, and upcoming activities.
Day 1 Highlights:
The meeting kicked off with updates on project management and ongoing research. Presentations led by Prof. Peter Bayer (MLU) and Abdul Dahash (AIT) focused on storage technologies, energy system integration, environmental impacts, and the effective dissemination of project results. A highlight of Day 1 was a tour of the AIT thermophysics laboratory, where attendees engaged in insightful discussions on insulation materials, heat flow measurements, and system integration for sTES systems.
The consortium also delved into energy storage materials, particularly those being tested at demo sites in Varanto (VECTES), Finland, and incampus, Ingolstadt, Germany. Discussions included how these sites are progressing in terms of material efficiency, heat exchanger design, and operational data acquisition.
Day 2 Highlights:
Day 2 focused on market exploitation and acceptance strategies, with presentations from the demo sites in Varanto and incampus. Experts shared in-depth insights on the economic feasibility of sTES solutions, considering energy costs and environmental benefits. The day wrapped up with workshops on models & simulations, monitoring, and technology transfer, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and innovation.
The meeting emphasized the importance of collaboration, with partners discussing potential industry applications and stakeholder engagement strategies. Looking ahead, the next consortium meeting will coincide with the Modelica Conference in September 2025, Luzern, Switzerland.
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