Aalborg CSP’s Unique Lid Technology Improves Bankability of Thermal Energy Storage

Danish renewable and energy storage specialist, Aalborg CSP has received the certificate for the unique Pit Thermal Energy Storage (PTES) lid technology, the world’s first commercial and now certified PTES lid technology.

The certificate and stamp of quality is the final important step for the cheapest energy storage technology in the world as a fully commercialized and bankable investment in low-temperature thermal energy storages.

The Technology Qualification Certificate proves that the PTES technology and unique lid solution fulfills the requirements for design and functionality. Among other things this includes a minimum lifetime of 25 years, a minimum energy loss and an availability factor of 100 per cent without risk of stoppages. Moreover, a minimum 90 per cent of all materials used in a PTES are recyclable.

Commenting on the technology, Svante Bundgaard, CEO at Aalborg CSP, said “investments in energy infrastructure around storage of excess heating and low-temperature energy is an important building block in the sector-coupling and provides municipalities and energy operations companies with the necessary flexibility as a response to the increasing electrification of our society. Without flexibility, we become much too dependent on a volatile electricity market, which can cause significant variations in the heating cost from the utility companies.”

The lid technology addresses and solves issues related to water accumulation inside the lid, water ponding on top of the lid, air accumulation below the lid and thermal expansion. It controls internal vapor, external rainfall and has an automatic ventilation system that prevents air from accumulating inside the PTES.

To validate the technology, Lloyd’s Register has inspected the project site in Marstal as well as reviewed and evaluated all technical solutions, critical components, and calculations. All specifications, such as the 25-year service life, the maximum heat loss of 10% and the 90% recyclability have thus been checked and verified by Lloyd’s Register.

The PTES technology has great opportunities and several projects within 200,000 to 1,000,000 m³ have already been identified in what is considered a promising pipeline within the European countries; this, despite the fact that the technology is still not implemented in many countries. However, with the new design concepts, a technology qualification certification and a large-scale commercial project already implemented, the PTES technology will be a key element in the energy infrastructure development in the years to come.