Compact Solar-Powered Thermal Energy Storage Battery (SolarHeatStore)

广东是一个太阳辐射率高的地区，使其成为受益于太阳能系统提供生活热水（DHW）的理想地点。尽管如此，本区域大部分地区仍然依赖化石燃料，主要是天然气，来提供生活热水;这不仅造成了城市污染，而且还造成了农村地区的能源获取问题。SolarHeatStore旨在通过提供低成本和易于安装的系统，使家庭能够从化石燃料转向更可持续的能源，从而改善广东省获得廉价能源的机会并减少排放。该系统直接支持联合国的可持续发展目标，即负担得起的清洁能源。SolarHeatStore系统将通过英国和中国合作伙伴之间的密切合作开发，将允许太阳能存储在一个紧凑的单元中，然后可以用于提供生活热水。这将弥合太阳能可用性与生活热水需求之间的差距，这是太阳能系统的一个主要问题。紧凑的设计是通过使用过冷（相变材料）PCM实现的，其能量密度比水高4至5倍，并允许在室温下储存热能而没有热损失。这意味着该装置可用于广东省的小型住宅，在那里空间非常宝贵，同时还减少了碳排放，降低了最终用户的能源成本。该项目将在英国和中国开发和优化原型系统，这将鼓励两国之间的密切合作和知识转移。最终产品的生产将在英国和中国创造制造机会。

Guangdong is a region with high solar irradiance, making it an ideal location to benefit from solar-based systems to provide domestic hot water (DHW). Despite this, much of the region still relies on fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, to provide its DHW; this not only contributes to pollution in cities, but also causes energy access issues in rural areas. SolarHeatStore aims to improve access to cheap energy and reduce emissions in Guangdong by providing a low cost and easy to install system that will allow households to move from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources. The system directly supports UNs sustainable development goal for affordable and clean energy. The SolarHeatStore system, which will be developed through close collaboration between UK and Chinese partners, will allow solar energy to be stored in a compact unit, which can then be later used to provide DHW. This will bridge the gap between the availability of the solar energy and the DHW demand, a major issue with solar systems. The compact design is achieved through the utilisation of a supercooled (Phase Change Material) PCM, which has an energy density 4 to 5 times higher than water, and allows thermal energy to be stored at room temperature without heat losses. This means that the unit can be used in small dwellings in Guangdong where space is it a premium whilst also reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy costs for the end user. The project will see prototype systems developed and optimised in both the UK and in China, which will encourage close collaboration and knowledge transfer between the nations. Production of the final product would generate manufacturing opportunities in both the UK and in China.