Joint project TurboTrans
In order to achieve the objectives of the 7th Energy Research Programme, turbomachinery, in various applications and forms, is of central importance - especially for thermal power plant processes with different fuels, integration of volatile renewable energy systems in so-called Power-to-X processes for hydrogen and fuel production, for the integration of energy storage in power plant processes and as concepts for the separation and use of CO2.
Turbomachines are the central elements in numerous energy storage applications and industrial processes and are also used in processes for the production of synthetic green fuels. This applies in particular to process compressors and expanders for the associated cycle processes. In future, these will be used in new thermodynamic cycles and must be able to be operated with alternative working media such as hydrogen and CO2. For hydrogen in particular, suitable compression and expansion units must be developed for storage and distribution, for example in pipeline networks, if hydrogen produced from surplus shares of renewable energy supply is to gain in importance as a storage medium for the green electrification of all sectors in the future.
The massive expansion of renewable energy conversion based on wind and solar has a major impact both on future power plant capacities and on the existing power plant fleet, which must be adapted to the volatile nature of renewable energy sources. In addition to the energy efficiency on the consumer side envisaged in the Energy Research Act, the targets set by the German government can only be achieved if the transport, household and industrial sectors are also electrified to a greater extent in order to reduce CO2 emissions and make them accessible to renewable energy sources as a result. In addition to the fundamental technical challenges, the reliability of the electricity supply and the affordability of future electricity prices must also be taken into account.
In addition, thermal power plants will continue to be indispensable in the future in order to compensate for fluctuations in volatile solar and wind energy sources. In addition to operational and fuel flexibility, this area will continue to demand the highest levels of efficiency from the plants and their components in order to meet the high price of electricity recovery from renewable fuels.
Requirements
The progressive expansion of renewable energy conversion plants will result in further requirements, both in the transformation phase with mixed operation of conventional power plant capacities and in the future with a supply system without the use of fossil fuels:
- The expansion of renewable energies also requires a significant expansion of energy storage capacities to ensure grid stability and security of supply. This must be done on a scale that far exceeds the technically mature storage technologies available to date (pumped storage; batteries). In addition to mechanical (LAES; CAES) and thermal storage, in which turbomachinery is used without exception for new cycle processes, this also includes chemical power-to-gas storage, e.g. with green hydrogen.
- Thermal power plants must provide reserve energy to compensate for fluctuations in renewables in order to supply power on demand and stabilise the grid. This means that the power plants and their turbomachinery must have maximum fuel and operational flexibility.
- Thermal power plants must provide reserve energy to compensate for fluctuations in renewables in order to supply power on demand and stabilise the grid. This means that the power plants and their turbomachinery must have maximum fuel and operational flexibility.
Work packages
The TurboTrans joint project is divided into three thematically overarching work packages in which the development of turbo components for different areas of application in the new energy mix is being driven forward:
WP 1: Storage and alternative media
For the realisation of a CO2 infrastructure and storage applications with different operating media, adapted compressors and turbines, also with alternative sealing and cooling concepts, are considered in this work package.
WP 2: Flexibility and efficiency
"Flexibility and efficiency" continue to be key challenges for gas turbines to cover residual loads and in integrated applications for heat supply and storage concepts.
WP 3: Green fuels
Turbomachines are key technological components for their increasing use. A particular challenge in the transformation phase towards a continuous power supply without the use of fossil fuels is the robust operation with different fuel mixtures.
Project structure
Facts and figures
Volumen
14.308 k€
Project duration
01.01.2025 - 30.06.2028
BMWK