Unleash
Unlocking the Electrification and Aggregate Storage potential of residential Heating
The project
Unleash stands for "UNLocking the Electrification and Aggregate Storage potential of residential Heating".
This project aims at unlocking the large-scale participation of factory heat pumps and electric boilers throughout Belgium, delivers short-term TSO services, and contributes to the long-term flexibility and electrification strategy towards 2050.
Activities
The project contains fundamental research (heat pump boiler digital twin model with detailed thermodynamic characteristics and control, including based on detailed measurements in the existing thermodynamics lab of ULiege and with the support of ThermoVault; development of first of a kind user consumption profiles under dynamic pricing and capacity tariff conditions, Uliege and Th!nk E; novel simulation models development, calibration, and validation, ULiege), combined with industrial research (linked to developing the control for the heat pump boiler, testing it at lab
scale using Thermovault’s lab, and development of the bidding algorithms for security of supply and transmission grid balancing, ULiege and ThermoVault; recommendations towards all stakeholders, ULiege, Th!nk E and ThermoVault). Finally, the pilot site identification, appliance
installation and operation is considered as experimental research (ThermoVault).
In practice
The ISES research team is leading the project from the side of the University of Liege. It focuses on the integration of the system into transmission and distribution grids, using as an input the digital twin developed within the Thermodynamics. Future deployment scenarios are considered and modelled together with the rapidly evolving conditions of the power system in Belgium.
Budget, duration, and partners
Budget: 2.300.000€
Duration: From September 1st, 2023 to February 28th, 2026
Project partners:
