M10 General Assembly Meeting
The TREASURE project recently marked a significant milestone with its third consortium meeting, held in Stuttgart, Germany on October 1–2. Partners from across Europe gathered to discuss progress, share insights, and plan for the future of large-scale thermal energy storage solutions. The meeting has proved to be a dynamic exchange of ideas, promoting collaboration and driving the project forward. Wim Van Helden of AEE INTEC, the project's coordinator, expertly guided the discussions, ensuring a productive and engaging experience for all participants. The agenda was packed with presentations and brainstorming sessions, all focused on advancing the development and implementation of Pit Thermal Energy Storage (PTES) technology. We delved into technical details, explored potential challenges, and collaboratively sought innovative solutions to optimize PTES performance and cost-effectiveness.
A highlight of the meeting was a site visit to Hechingen, where the remarkable progress on a key PTES demonstrator was demonstrated. This visit provided a tangible glimpse into the real-world application of the research and development efforts undertaken within the TREASURE project. The project team was reminded of the scale and complexity of the PTES system, observing the excavated pit that will eventually house up to 500,000 m³ of thermal energy storage capacity.
Our demonstrators are a crucial components of the project, serving as a living laboratory for testing and refining PTES technology under real-world conditions. Representatives from Stadtwerke Hechingen and Solites provided detailed explanations of the planned district heating network and how the seasonal heat storage system will play a vital role in supplying sustainable warmth to the community. This on-site experience served as a powerful reminder of the project's ultimate goal: to provide viable and sustainable energy solutions for a greener future.
