Electro-thermal energy converter using novel combined thermoacoustic and electrocaloric system

Energy and transport are the highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the EU at 25 % and 21 % respectively of total emissions. Efficient management, conversion and distribution of thermal energy as well as converting excess or wasted heat into electricity presents a major opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero by 2050 in the energy and transport sectors and beyond e.g. heating and cooling distribution in buildings and districts, improved efficiency in renewables and more efficient, longer range electric vehicles. THERMINATOR will develop a new energy conversion technology in the form of an efficient low profile energy conversion “skin” that can be integrated into the fabric of a building or the wall of a pipe to reduce energy loss through active insulation or to provide temperature conversion in heat networks. It could be applied as a backing to improve efficiency of solar cells or integrated into the structure of a vehicle to support passenger comfort or improved efficiency of structural batteries.