Successful workshops on the project “Carnot B

To address the variability of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the Korea Energy Research Institute (KIER) has joined forces with industry, academia and government to lead the development of a future energy storage technology known as the “Carnot Battery”. “

On May 17 (Friday), the Korea Energy Research Institute (KIER) held a workshop with experts from industry, academia, research and government at its headquarters in Daejeon to discuss the technology, political status and development direction of Carnot Battery in relation to energy storage and heat pumps.

Solar and wind energy are key to achieving a future carbon neutrality. However, their performance varies depending on weather conditions, highlighting the importance of storage technology in storing renewable energy for later use. Currently, lithium-based storage devices account for 99% of the national distribution, but they are not suitable for long-term, high-capacity storage due to high costs, short lifespan and safety issues. To manage renewable energy in the hundreds of megawatts (MW), more cost-effective and reliable long-term storage technologies are needed.
^{* Renewable energy generation targets: The target is to achieve a 28.9% share of renewable energy production by 2036, with an expected capacity of new facilities of up to 80 GW by 2036 (in line with the 10th Basic Plan for Supply and Demand for Electricity, January 2023, Ministry of Economy, Trade, Industry and Energy).
*Long-duty storage device projections: Approximately 22.6 GW of long-duration storage devices will be needed by 2036 (according to the 10th Electricity Supply and Demand Basic Plan, January 2023, Ministry of Commerce , Industry and Energy).}

That’s why Carnot Battery technology is gaining popularity. A Carnot battery uses electric radiators or heat pumps to convert renewable electricity into high-temperature thermal energy (over 600°C), which is then stored in thermal media such as stone, sand or metal. If necessary, the stored energy can be converted back into electricity. Although currently in the early stages of development, it is expected to store large amounts of energy for more than 10 hours while maintaining low operating costs comparable to pumped storage plants. As a result, active research is taking place around the world.
^{*Advanced countries such as the United States and Germany are also conducting research at the demonstration/pilot installation level. A leading example in the world is the German company Siemens-Gamesa, which has developed the Carnot battery system with a capacity of 5.4 MW/130 MWh.}

Another advantage of Carnot batteries is their ability to reuse coal-fired power plants that are being retired due to reduced levels of particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions. By simply replacing the boiler system of a coal-fired power plant with a thermal energy storage system, it can be converted into a Carnot battery. Instead of coal, the system uses renewable energy to generate and store heat in thermal media, enabling energy production without having to change the rest of the existing infrastructure.
^{* Of the 58 coal-fired power plants, 28 are planned to be decommissioned (in accordance with the 10th Master Plan for Electricity Demand and Demand, January 2023, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy).}

The Carnot Battery workshop was attended by over 70 experts from industry, academia, research institutions and government, including the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Institute (KETEP) and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). During the workshops, KIER presented the technology of low-cost, high-temperature heat carriers, key elements of the Carnot Battery, and also presented the vision of using thermal energy storage systems in decommissioned power plants.

The Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Institute (KETEP), the organization responsible for overseeing research and development, clarified the current planning status of new Carnot battery projects. Research institutions, including KIER, shared their research and development efforts in the field of high-temperature heat storage and heat pumps for Carnot batteries, as well as updates on research conducted under international cooperation.

In subsequent industry presentations, Doosan Energy discussed “Applications of long-term thermal energy storage systems and development plans for high-temperature thermal storage media.” MAN Energy Solutions (MAN-ES), a Swiss energy company, has presented “New Business Case for Carnot Heat Pump Batteries”. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) released “The Status of Carnot Battery Development by Startups” and presented the academic trends in the field.

Dr. Junhyun Cho of KIER, who organized the workshop, said: “The workshop was a productive event where domestic research institutions and companies gathered to discuss the activation of Carnot Battery research in Korea and future action plans. We hope that through cooperation and capacity consolidation among related organizations in this global field at an early stage, Korea can achieve technological advantage as the first player in Carnot Battery technology.

Meanwhile, Dr. Junhyun Cho is participating as Korea’s representative in the International Carnot Battery Research Cooperation Program initiated by the International Energy Agency (IEA). It contributes to defining global technologies, new business and political directions, conveying Korea’s perspectives in these areas.

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