3. Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage
RESEARCH PROGRAMME
EFFICIENT ENERGY CONVERSION AND STORAGE
COORDINATOR
Ing. Jiří Plešek, CSc.
Institute of Thermomechanics of the CAS
GOALS
- To ensure efficient utilization of renewable energy sources
- To facilitate storage of energy from renewable energy sources
- To pursue research towards smart distribution of energy
- To develop new fuels for efficient and clean combustion
- To develop new materials for energy conversion
Participating CAS Institutes
Institute of Thermomechanics
Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals
Institute of Computer Science
J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry
Institute of Physics
Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics
Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Institute of Physics of Materials
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry
Institute of Plasma Physics
Institute of Scientific Instruments
Institute of Information Theory and Automation
Institute of Geophysics
Global Change Research Centre
“Conversion, storage, distribution, broader context. Energy for the future.”
The long-term self-sufficiency and security of the energy supply in the Czech Republic, an enhancement of the export potential for the Czech producers of energy and energy-related technology, and the reduction of the environmental burden – these are the most imminent societal challenges for the research of efficient conversion of various energy sources, energy storage, and smart energy distribution.
Numerous institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences conducting relevant fundamental research strive to look for novel solutions and bring critical innovations to existing energy technologies. The research will focus on renewable energy sources and the associated increased demands on the distribution network and energy storage, on the geophysical conditions for wind, solar and geothermal power generation, on the development of nanostructured materials for conversion and storage of energy, as well as on the search for suitable materials for thermal energy storage or direct conversion of solar energy to hydrogen.
Comprehensive research of fuel technologies will include the utilization of separated combustion products and the production of energy from waste. The progress of decentralization of power production requires the development of smart power grids based on advanced statistical and dynamic models. The necessity of balancing the intermittent output of the renewable energy sources calls for adequate energy storage capacities in the form of hydrogen, advanced batteries and supercapacitors, or for example flywheels. The success of the transformation of the energy sector in the upcoming decades will depend on the success of the core research in many areas of technology, physics, chemistry, biotechnology, computer science and even social sciences. Our research program provides a platform for interdisciplinary research in energy technologies and for transferring its results to professionals and the public.
Website of the programme