BLAZETEC is dedicated to advancing three innovative technologies (TEG, TPV, and TIG), with a primary focus on enhancing their efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art systems. The objective is to achieve a substantial increase not only in efficiency but also in power density generation. The project focuses on the application of innovative energy conversion technologies for heat recovery within thermal batteries for two specific applications: electric-to-heat-to-electric (pilot 1) and solar-to-heat-to-electric (pilot 2). Pilot 1 finds applications in industrial and building sectors (i.e., the primary application of the thermal batteries developed by TPH and UPM in other EU projects). Pilot 2 serves for direct solar energy storage and conversion.

The project's outcomes encompass five innovative energy conversion devices (including three standalone and two hybrid devices), the development of an innovative system for dispatchable electricity generation using these devices, and the successful pilot demonstration of these devices within two thermal batteries, ultimately reaching a TRL 5. The overarching objective is to showcase reliable operation (exceeding 500 hours) of on-demand thermal-to-electric conversion with efficiencies ranging from 30 to 40% and power densities between 4 to 8 W/cm², depending on the specific technologies employed.

The innovations to be proven:

1. Vacuum micro-gap TIG with an efficiency > 20% and an output power density > 4 W/cm² within a temperature range of 1200 to 1600 ºC for the cathode temperature.

2. Multimodule cascade TEG with an efficiency of 15% and an output power density > 1 W/cm at temperatures up to 1000 °C (with a low-temperature side of 50 °C).

3. Multijunction TPV converter with an efficiency > 40% and an output power density > 4 W/cm² within a temperature range of 1200 to 1600 ºC.