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RECITHERM develops reversible thermodynamic energy storage solutions to support the integration of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites. The project addresses the challenge of fluctuating renewable energy supply by developing integrated energy conversion and storage technologies that provide a constant, robust, low-carbon, and economically viable energy input for process industries. The solutions developed within RECITHERM will combine renewable electricity, solar heat and waste heat with advanced storage and conversion technologies, supported by digital tools for optimisation and control.
The RECITHERM project aims to:
Develop efficient grid-scale power-to-heat-to-power technology for the process industry.
Identify realisable energy synergies within large scale industrial hubs for further evolution toward circularity.
Enable robust integration of a renewable energy carriers into a short-term storage which is highly competitive to electrochemical energy storage.
Demonstrate two innovative industrial scale P2P prototpyes for pumped TES with experimental data involving industrials sites.
WP1 – Project Coordination and Management WP1 ensures the effective management of the project, including technical, administrative, financial and risk management activities. It supports collaboration among partners and ensures alignment with project objectives and reporting requirements.
WP2 – Definition of Use Cases, Requirements and KPIs This Work Package defines the baseline conditions for the project by defining industrial use cases, sustainability methodologies, key performance indicators and forecasting approaches. It also addresses safety requirements and risk assessment activities.
WP3 – Development of Component and Dynamic System Simulation Tools and Digital Twins WP3 develops simulation tools and digital twins for the RECITHERM technologies. These tools will support system design, optimisation, performance prediction and validation using real operational data.
WP4 – Development of the Key Enabling Technologies The objectives of this WP are the development and optimisation of RECITHERM’s core technologies, including thermal storage systems, heat exchangers, reversible steam compressors and intelligent monitoring and control systems.
WP5 – Design, Set-up and Installation of Use Case Prototypes WP5 covers the assembly, integration and installation of the RECSOL and RECSTEAM prototypes. It includes component selection, system integration and functional testing before deployment at the demonstration sites.
WP6 – Field Testing Under Relevant Conditions
WP6 validates the performance of the developed technologies through testing activities at industrial demonstration sites. The work includes monitoring, data collection, performance analysis and sustainability assessment.
WP7 – Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement WP7 promotes project results through communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities. It also supports exploitation planning, clustering with relevant initiatives and collaboration with industrial and policy stakeholders.
RECITHERM will demonstrate two innovative prototype systems.
The RECSOL prototype will be tested at the University of Évora’s Evora Molten Salt Platform (EMSP), integrating renewable electricity, solar thermal energy, and thermal energy storage.
The RECSTEAM prototype will be demonstrated at Mo Industrial Park (MIP), using a reversible steam cycle, phase change material storage, and industrial waste heat streams.
Both prototypes will be validated under relevant operating conditions and supported by digital twins and advanced monitoring tools.
RECITHERM brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of research organisations, universities, industrial technology providers, industrial sites and dissemination experts from across Europe. The consortium combines complementary expertise in thermodynamic energy storage, heat pumps, steam cycles, renewable energy integration, digital twins, industrial demonstration, sustainability assessment, and stakeholder engagement. Together, the partners will develop, validate, and demonstrate innovative solutions to support the integration of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites under real operating conditions.
INEGI, the project coordinator, leads the overall implementation of RECITHERM and contributes extensive expertise in mechanical engineering, energy systems and industrial innovation
Białystok University of Technology (BUT) and Universitatea Constantin Brâncuşi (UCB) contribute advanced research capabilities in energy systems, heat transfer and engineering technologies
PCM Products, IRIS Technology Solutions, AMS Innovation Center, Svenska Rotor Maskiner (SRM) and Expander Tech (RANK) provide key technological expertise supporting the development of the project’s innovative thermodynamic solutions.
Universidade de Évora (UEV), SINTEF Helgeland (SNTF), Mo Industripark (MIP) and Ferroglobe Mangan Norge (FER) play a central role in the demonstration and validation activities, ensuring that the technologies are assessed under relevant industrial conditions.
A.SPIRE leads dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities, supporting communication, exploitation and outreach throughout the project.
RECITHERM aims to deliver TRL5-6 integrated prototype systems, validated digital twins, industrial symbiosis cooperation models, and recommendations for the wider deployment of renewable energy carrier integration in industrial sites. The project will also support skills development, stakeholder engagement, and future exploitation activities.
WP1 – Project Coordination & Management
D1.1 – Project Management Plan
D1.2 – Risk Management Plan
D1.3 – Data Management Plan
WP2 – Definition of Use Cases, Requirements and KPIs
D2.1 – Sustainability framework, LCI methodology and baseline report
D2.2 – Risk and safety-by-design requirements report
D2.3 – Report on forecasting models
WP3 – Development of Component and Dynamic System Simulation Tools and Digital Twins
D3.1 – Individual component models
D3.2 – System configuration and performance simulations
D3.3 – AI forecasting models (short-term and very short-term) with performance evaluation
D3.4 – Validated digital tools
D3.5 – Digital tools user manual
WP4 – Development of the Key Enabling Technologies
D4.1 – Initial sustainability and TEA of RECITHERM prototypes
D4.2 – Process hazard analysis and occupational risk assessment report
D4.3 – Report on optimized key enabling technology design
D4.4 – Intelligent EMCS development
WP5 – Design, Set-up and Installation of Use Case Prototypes
D5.1 – List of components of both systems and preliminary technical documentation
D5.2 – Functional test results
D5.3 – Prototypes installed
D6.1 – Automated data analysis method
D6.2 – Performance assessment results of RECSOL and RECSTEAM systems
D6.3 – Final integrated sustainability, techno-economic and safety assessment
WP7 – Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement
D7.1 – Communication toolbox, visual identity, website and social media pages
D7.2 – Dissemination & Communication Plan
D7.3 – Exploitation Plan
D7.4 – Synergies activities
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Scientific representative of the project’s coordinator: Dr Szabolcs Varga Tel. +351229578710 E-mail: svarga@inegi.up.pt
Project Manager Ana Isabel Marques E-mail: aimarques@inegi.up.pt
