Serving Industries
Since 2002
Since 2002
TechUPGRADE is a Horizon Europe-funded project focused on developing innovative thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems that can meet the heat demands of industry while drastically reducing CO₂ emissions. The project addresses one of the key challenges of energy transition — decoupling heat supply from volatile renewable sources by enabling compact, long-duration heat storage using advanced materials.
The system is tailored for industrial applications, where high-temperature heat, reliability, and energy efficiency are essential. The goal is to deliver a modular TCES unit that is cost-effective, scalable, and easy to integrate into existing industrial processes.
As a core industrial partner, TMEC is responsible for developing and building thermal reactor units that convert stored chemical energy into usable process heat. Our focus is not on the chemistry itself, but on the practical engineering needed to translate lab-scale material innovations into functional and scalable hardware.
Our key contributions include:
✅ Development of a 1 kW laboratory prototype — a functional thermal reactor built around TechUPGRADE’s chosen thermochemical material, enabling experimental testing under real thermal loads.
✅ Design for scalability — engineering solutions for 5 kW and 35 kW pilot-scale reactors, including system layout, heat exchange logic, and operational strategies.
✅ Integration of heat exchangers — optimizing thermal interfaces to ensure efficient heat transfer between the active storage material and the industrial process.
✅ System operation protocols — defining start-up, control, and safety strategies to support reliable operation in industrial settings.
While the core materials and modeling are developed by our research partners, TMEC turns ideas into hardware — focusing on manufacturability, integration, and robust performance under demanding conditions.
With a strong track record in high-temperature systems and energy conversion, we’re proud to be driving the engineering foundation of TechUPGRADE’s thermochemical technology.
