Focus area of Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES)

Engineering for Sustainable Energy Systems

To design, develop, test and demonstrate engineering solutions for energy systems. This involves understanding of (electro)chemical transformation, multiphase transport phenomena and separation.

INTRO

The focus area Engineering for Sustainable Energy Systems will primarily address the engineering of systems for the production and use of sustainable energy carriers like H2, NH3, metal powder and renewable carbon containing fuels (e.g. methanol, DME, OME and LNG). On the production side these are electrolyzers for H2 as a key enabler and technologies to convert H2 in other energy carriers like NH3, renewable carbon based fuels from CO2 and metal powder. On the use side focus is on combustion systems like furnaces, turbines and engines and regeneration of metal powder.  
This focus area is tightly connected and complementary to the focus area Chemistry for Sustainable Energy Systems, which addresses the chemical aspects of (electro-)chemical systems for renewable fuels. Together with the focus area of Systems for Sustainable Hea', they naturally flow towards the focus area on System Integration.

Iconic project: Metal Fuels

Metal fuels have a volumetric energy density that is even higher than that of current liquid fossil fuels and do not require compression or liquefaction, can be handled, transported and stored over long periods of time, and can be used as a completely CO2-free circular source of energy. Conversion and reduction of metal fuels as dense energy carriers is a new area in science and technology with a huge potential, especially for long-term large-scale energy storage purposes. First applications are foreseen in high-temperature industrial heating processes, heavy duty transport (long-haul trucks and ships) and for refurbishing coal-fired power plants. Research is still in its infancy and TU/e is one of the front-runners worldwide. TU/e’s strong position in the area of clean and efficient combustion of future fuels is a firm basis for expanding this position.

Principal Scientists

Departments involved/ contributing to EIRES

  • Applied Physics
  • Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
  • Mechanical Engineering
     

Research and application areas

  • H2O electrolysis
  • H2 combustion systems
  • Heavy duty combustion systems
  • Metal fuels

Contact

EIRES | Focus Area: Engineering for Sustainable Energy Systems